Vata Subdosha: Prāna Vāyu
In āyurveda, the ancient Indian system of medicine, understanding the subdoshas is crucial for maintaining overall health. The subdoshas refer to the elements of a particular dosha (air and space, fire and water, or earth and water) and how the act in the body. Each of the three main dosha (vata, pitta, and kapha) have a set of 5 subdoshas that give us a deeper look into the impact the doshas have on our physical, mental, and spiritual state.
Today, we will delve into the importance of the first vata subdosha called prāna vāyu. The word vāyu is the Sanskrit word that means wind and indicates that vata governs movement and flow in our bodies. Prāna vāyu is responsible for the movement of energy, breath, and information throughout our bodies, acting as the bridge between the mind and body. Its influence can be found in our respiratory system, heart, and nervous system.
Prāna vāyu is intricately linked to the breath. Breathing is not just a physical act; it is a vital source of energy and life force. When prāna vāyu is balanced, our breath flows effortlessly, bringing in oxygen and nourishing every cell in our body. It supports the oxygenation of our blood and helps remove toxins, creating harmony within.
Prāna vāyu also plays a fundamental role in our mental and emotional well-being. It is closely related to the mind and governs our state of consciousness. Balanced prāna vāyu facilitates clear thinking, creativity, and intuition. It is the energy that fuels our mental processes, allowing us to perceive, analyze, and synthesize information.
Prāna vāyu also impacts our nervous system. It aids in the transmission of neural signals, ensuring efficient communication between our brain and various parts of our body. A balanced prāna vāyu contributes to improved coordination, quick reflexes, and overall vitality.
When prāna vāyu becomes imbalanced, it can lead to a range of physical and emotional disturbances. Excessive energy in prāna vāyu may manifest as anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, or even respiratory disorders. On the other hand, depleted prāa vāyu can result in fatigue, lack of focus, and poor circulation.
Prāna vāyu allows us to respond to life in a skillful way. It is the joie de vivre, that exuberant joy that is available to us, when we don’t let life bend us out of shape.
To maintain the harmony in prāna vāyu, a holistic approach is required. Prānāyama, yoga āsana, meditation , and a nourishing diet can all help restore balance to this subdosha. These practices support the flow of prana, enhance lung capacity, calm the mind, and promote overall well-being.
The vata subdosha prāna vāyu is an essential aspect of our physical, mental, and emotional health. By nurturing and balancing this subdosha, we can experience increased vitality, mental clarity, and a deeper connection to ourselves.
Practices to promote healthy flow of prāna vāyu:
Backbending postures. Prāna vāyu circulates primarily in the chest, upper back, neck, throat and head. Postures such as cobra, upward facing dog, camel, and upward facing bow all help to promote health flow of prāna vāyu.
Bhastrikā Prānāyāma. Commonly known as the bellows breath, bhastrikā prānāyāma is a powerful tool for expanding the flow of prāna vāyu. This dynamic, vitalizing breath clears the respiratory system, increases vitality, and clears the mind. To practice bhastrikā prānāyāma sit in a comfortable, cross legged position with your spine erect, place your hands on your thighs with your elbows winging out to the sides. Your inhales will be sharp, full, and deep, and your exhales will be forceful and complete. The inhale and exhale are rhythmic and steady. When you inhale tilt the top of your pelvis forward and lift your chest as if you are doing the cow posture, on your exhale tip the top of your pelvis backward, round your spine like you are doing the cat posture.
Fresh, organic fruits and vegetables. Fresh foods, especially light fruits and vegetables enhance the flow of prāna vāyu in our system. When we eat fresh, whole foods like fruits and vegetables we are literally ingesting the prāna found in those foods. Meat, which comes from dead animals, and processed foods, which are often filled with chemicals are lacking prāna, and serve to deplete the flow of prāna vāyu in our systems.