Prana is a Sanskrit term that refers to the life force or vital energy that exists in all things. It is an energy that pulses through the body along a network of subtle body channels, similar to the central nervous system. Prana is not the same as breath, but it is related to it. The breath is considered to be the most subtle form of prana in our bodies, and it is most often described in yogas breathing exercises. Prana is a mainstay of Hindu, Ayurvedic, Hatha Yoga, and Tantric Yoga traditions, but similar references to the "life force" are seen in other cultures and spiritual traditions.
In Hindu literature, prana is sometimes described as originating from the Sun and connecting the elements. Five types of prana, collectively known as the five vayus ("winds"), are described in Hindu texts. Ayurveda, tantra, and Tibetan medicine all describe prana vayu as the basic vayu from which the other vayus arise. Prana is divided into ten main functions: The five Pranas - Prana, Apana, Udana, Vyana, and Samana - and the five Upa-Pranas - Naga, Kurma, Devadatta, Krikala, and Dhananjaya.
Prana is the source of all movement in the body and regulates all of our conscious and unconscious bodily functions like our breath, digestion, blood flow, elimination, and cellular growth and healing. The flow of prana distributes its energy through the body based on the quality and capacity of the nadis energy channels and the chakras energy centers. Prana also animates and affects the quality of our thoughts, emotions, and consciousness.
Prana can be felt, and there are different practices that work with prana, such as meditation and pranayama. Prana has multiple sources, including the air we breathe, the food we eat, the water we drink, and the suns energy that nourishes all living beings.
