vyana vayu

One can read every book ever written and study any philosophy available, but to really understand anything, we have to experience it ourselves.

We never truly know the depths of something until we’ve felt it ourselves. In reality, learning requires so much unlearning.

The ease of search engines such as Google have provided an unfathomable amount of knowledge and understanding, literally available to most people within seconds. But the reality is that they have stolen the wonder of true, lived experiences, and the beauty of imagination and feeling.

As technology takes over, humans become duller.

So, though we attempt to write a piece on this ancient Indian concept, know that to really understand it, you have to be willing to let go of preconceived ideas and feel the philosophy for yourself.

The smartest amongst us understand that really, they know nothing. To grasp the majesty of nature (which is everything), you have to arrive with a beginner’s mind. Our interpretation will be different to yours, and vice versa.

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Similar to ancient Chinese theories, yogis believe the energetic body comprises rivers (nadis) of energy (prana) with whirlpools (cakras) and knots (granthis) throughout. The body is a complex, multi-layered, expanding and retracting pulsation of electricity and light.

According to yogic philosophy, the body contains elements of water, earth, fire and air.

Nadis correlate to the Chinese meridians; rivers or channels to carry or transport ki/qi (‘chi’) or prana; vital life energy.

These channels allow the energetic resonations of every thought, word and action to flow through the body. Some energies move smoothly, others become stuck or tangled, creating physical and emotional tension or pain.

Like all things, the energetic anatomy of the body appears separate, yet in reality is one system working intricately toward harmony. We only label each part separately so as not to become overwhelmed by the vastness of it.

The body is a microcosm of the macrocosm of the universe with vast space, galaxies and stars.

Within the energetic body are currents of air, called Vayus. There are five directions the vayus flow throughout the body. Though each vayu swirls in individual rhythms, they swirl throughout every part, stirring the inner world like waves of the ocean. They can be imagined as winds or waves through skies and waters.

Vyana Vayu is the wind moving from heart and lungs to the periphery of limbs. A pulsation from core to the outer boundaries. Internal to external.

Vyana differs to the other four in that it travels the entirety of the body and is not restricted to any single bodily part. It governs the circulatory systems of blood and lymphatic flow, traversing the central nervous system, affecting the sympathetic and parasympathetic responses.

Originating in the chest, our breathing centre, vyana pulsates from lungs and heart, governing the expression of our limbs. The quality of flow affects how we carry ourselves, our acts of giving and receiving, and our energetic expansion and contraction. Our legs provide movement through the world, and our arms allow expression from heart.

When imbalanced, this wind affects our circulation so we may feel out of balance, low, heavy or depressed. Our nervous and lymphatic systems are also affected, leading to poor immunity or dis-ease. Vyana also affects our skin and therefore our sense of self and our boundaries. If we feel out of sorts, or unable to express our emotions or voice, it’s likely we will negatively impact this energetic current, creating imbalance.

Because vyana travels the whole body, any movement will encourage a shift to its currents. A well-balanced physical practice, involving arm, leg and spinal movements will recalibrate prana here. Breath retention (kumbhaka) on an inhalation or exhalation can also be helpful, but obviously any pranayama (breath practice) will invite energy flow to vyana vayu especially as it encompasses lungs. Variations on the yogic Warrior postures can allow one to sense this energetic pathway more viscerally.

The trick is not to get caught up in the technicality of any part. But, rather to understand that to move physically, moves us energetically.

While the theory of our electric body seems illusive, it’s important to move and lean into sensing it for yourself. Imagine these energy lines and currents. Breathe and feel into the sensations of the pathways and be curious about how external movement encourages internal movement and vice versa.

These things have to be felt, rather than thought.

Movement really matters. It makes life luminous.