Prana- A secret to Healthy Body and a Healthy Mind

Prana is a subtle life force or energy which permeates through your body. It is an Eastern concept. Prana flows through the body through meridians or nadis and are concentrated in areas called chakras. According to yogic principle when prana flows through the body freely without any obstruction we are in a relaxed state called the prana state. When there are lot of blockages in the flow of prana it is a chronic state also called as low prana state. There are some tools and techniques described by this ancient science of how to unblock these obstacles and allow the prana to flow freely in the body.

Now lets first understand, how lack of prana affects our life. Most of the common ailments are a result of chronic stress. Example- Insomnia, difficulty falling asleep, difficulty digesting food, chronic fatigue, frequent infections, anxiety, depression. The symptoms can go away with medicines, but only on a temporary basis. Since you don’t have a pill for the root cause of the illness that is chronic stress. Unless you get away with chronic stress, you will never recover completely.

When you are in stress, all the non essential functions of the body come to a halt – your digestion, sleep, growth.

The reason can be anything pressure from your boss, an argument with your spouse or unpaid bills. But we need to pause and think, is the real reason any of these or is it our own thought process or our perception of our life. We need to pause here and address the root cause of our stress else it will soon become chronic and we will soon be a patient taking pills for various illnesses that will follow.

Now lets talk about the techniques to unblock the obstacles in that are blocking the pranayama from freely flowing through your body. These techniques as described by the ancient science are asanas or postures, pranayama or the breathing techniques and meditation. When you practice all three on a regular basis, prana or the life energy increases and you become more balanced and relaxed. You get rid of all the cravings of wealth, prosperity and attention from your social circles. Now next question that would come to your mind would be how to increase your prana and attain the state of high prana.

Lets take a stock the the sources of prana-

1. Food
2. Breath
3. Sleep and
4. Practical Wisdom

Making improper choices will land us in trouble- Improper sleep and incessant worrying.

Lets take a test of whether you are in a state of high prana or low prana- Are you feeling happy and relaxed or are you feeling low. If you are feeling low, find the easiest source of prana. I would personally recommend breathing.  Finally keep practicing this technique so that you make smarter choices. The food you eat, the words you say, the way you react to a situation. Ask your self this question – Are any of these choices going to increase your prana or are decrease it.

I strongly believe prana- or the life force is a way to a healthier life and a concept that is worth spreading.

Aditi is a certified Yoga Instructor for Power Yoga from Akshar Power Yoga. She teaches Hatha yoga, Power Yoga, Meditative Yoga and Yoga Therapy. She has experience in teaching and practicing yoga for about 4 years.