Prana, in Sanskrit, means absolute energy. It is the active principle of life. The Chinese call it chi, the Japanese call it ki, and the Stoics call it pneuma. Prana is universal energy, a vital force present in all forms of life, from the most elementary form of plant life to the highest form of animal life. It is all-pervading and a universal principle, representing the essence of all motion, force, or energy in the universe. It encompasses gravity, electricity, the movement of the planets, and all forms of life.
Prana is found in all things that possess life. And according to the Yogi philosophy, life is present in all things, in every atom. Even the apparent lifelessness of some things is just a lower degree of manifestation. Therefore, we can understand that Prana is everywhere, in everything.
In his best-selling book "Breath," James Nestor wrote,
"Prana is basically an ancient theory of atoms. The concrete in your driveway, the clothes on your body, your spouse clanking dishes in the kitchen – they are all made of swirling atomic bits. It's energy. It's Prana."
Prana exists in all forms of matter, yet it is not matter. It is in the air, but it is not the air or any of its components.
And how does our body use prana?
When we take a breath, the blood receives the oxygen from the air and uses it in the circulatory system. The prana in the air is used by the nervous system. Just as the oxygenated blood is carried to all parts of the body, prana is carried to all parts of the nervous system, providing strength and vitality.
The body uses oxygen in the blood to replenish and rebuild itself. The nervous system uses prana when we think, act, reason, and move. Consequently, constant replenishing is necessary. Every thought, every action, every effort of the will, every muscle movement, and every spoken word uses a certain amount of prana.
Most of the prana we obtain comes through our breathing. This is why proper breathing is essential for radiating vitality and strength. Does the word Pranayama ring a bell? Prana means energy, and Yama means control. Pranayama refers to the deliberate control and absorption of prana through respiration. That's where these popular breathing techniques get their name from.
Think of prana as the vitality you feel, the energy or force that animates you and every other form of matter.
This is a series of emails describing the composition of us humans. I will briefly write about the general nature of each of these seven principles. At the end of this email series, I will send a downloadable PDF file so that you can have them handy and continue studying them to gain a complete understanding of yourself.
Previous posts in this series:
