40 A JOURNEY INTO YIN YOGA
PRANA VAYUS
In addition to the koshas, another important branch of subtle anatomy is the
prana vayus. Prana, like chi, is life force and vital energy. It’s what fuels all
of life—from the energy that regulates our bodily systems to the energy that
fuels the sun. It’s yoga’s goal to increase prana within ourselves so that we
have more energy to fuel the things that are important to us. Vayu means
wind or direction of energy. Prana vayus are the winds of vitality. Let’s take
a closer look.Udana Vayu
This is energy that moves upward. Centered in the diaphragm, it moves
through the lungs, bronchi, trachea, and throat and governs exhalation. Our
oral expression is connected to udana in the sense that we communicate from
what we feel in our gut and in our heart. If it is healthy, we experience joy,
but if it is suppressed, we feel depression. Seal pose (p. 134) is a yin posture
that stimulates udana as the chest and heart draw upward.Apana Vayu
This is a downward flow of energy. It can be found in the lower abdominal
region and pelvic cavity. We see apana manifested when making love and
giving birth. Disorders related to apana include constipation, diarrhea, lower
back pain, and sexual impairment. Squat pose (p. 110) is a yin posture that
stimulates apana because the hips and torso drop toward the floor.Vyana Vayu
This is the outward flow of energy that moves the life force from the core of
the body into the extremities. It is associated with the circulation of blood
and lymph and with the peripheral nervous system. Blocking this energy can
cause circulation issues such as cold feet and hands. Corpse pose (p. 152) is
a yin posture that activates vyana vayu as the arm and legs radiate out from
the torso in all directions.Samana Vayu
This is the inward flow of energy. It governs digestion, absorption, and assimi-
lation of the food, liquid, and air that enter the body. Imbalanced samana may
lead to loss of appetite, indigestion, and bloating. Caterpillar pose (p. 92) is a
yin posture that activates samana as the torso and legs fold into each other.Prana Vayu
This is the circulation of energy. Just as nature and the Tao flow in cycles,
it is the nature of prana to flow circularly. Prana is connected to the breath,
lungs, and diaphragm. It is responsible for inhalation, and an imbalance of
prana vayu can cause heart palpitations, labored breathing, breathlessness,
and asthma. Other symptoms of an imbalance in prana vayu are anxiety, fear,