EY Temple  Prana Vayu Online

wk 3 Lesson

Udana & Vyana Vayu

 

Udana Vayu

Definition; That which carries upward

Location; Throat

Expression; Verbal, self-expression

Movement: Upwards

Action; Metabolizing

Element: Ether

Benefit: Improves self-expression, mental and emotional growth

Chakra: Vishuddha & Ajna

Pose category; Inversions

Breath:

 

Definition

The direct translation of Udana Vayu is “That which carries upward” and it’s function is to “Hold us up.”

The movement of Udana is upward, I remember by the U in Udana and the U in Upwards. Even though Udana’s home is in the throat, the movement of prana and energy is from the heart, to the throat and up to the head. It feeds prana to the five senses and the brain, connected to both the Vishuddha and Ajna chakras. It governs speech and all that is verbal, effecting our self expression as well as mental and emotional growth.

With the ascending energy of Udana it is best to practice activating this vayu with a morning or early afternoon practice rather than later in the day.

 

Location; Throat

Udana’s home is both the throat and head, including both Vishudda & Ajna chakras. To feel Udana sit comfortably breathing naturally and notice the breath and prana circulating in and around the neck and head.

Engaging Udyana bandha helps activate an upward flow of energy from naval to heart, throat, ajna to crown.

 

Expression; Verbal, self-expression

A healthy Udana Vayu allows healthy self-expression, strong verbal abilities, as well as thriving growth.

 

Movement

Upwards, ascending flow of energy from lower chakras to higher chakras, more specifically from the heart to throat to head.

Housed in the throat, yet associated with both the throat, Vishudda and third eye, Ajna chakras with a movement upwards from the heart and chest to the throat and finally to the head and brain. The movement in the throat and 3rd eye area, where Udana is housed, is a circulating energy in, around and through the neck and head area.

Also inviting spiritual growth and movement toward the light, the higher chakras and wisdom

 

Action

Metabolizing

 

Element

Ether

 

Benefits of a healthy Udana Vayu

-Empowered self expression

-Positive physical, mental & emotional growth and expansion

-Physical balance and strength

-Desire to grow spiritually

-Good posture, straight elongated spine

 

Unhealthy Udana Vayus

-Dis ease of the throat

-Difficulty in speech

-Breathing issues, shortness of breath

-Balance problems

-Uncoordinated physical body movements

-Constrained ability to express oneself

-Poor posture

 

Chakra

Vishuddha & Ajna chakras. Although Udana is primarily located in the throat, it is the circulating energy that surrounds, moves around, in and through both the neck and head, activating both the throat and third eye chakras.

 

Pose category

Inversions are the main pose category, as they invite an upward flow of prana.

A complimentary pose categories for Udana laterals as well as back bends that open the neck and heart. Engagement of the uddiyana bandha during practice assists the upward flow of prana.

 

Breath

Ujayi pranayama

Bhramari pranayama

 

 

 

 

 

Vyana-Vayu

Definition; Outward moving air

Location; All over the body

Expression; Alignment

Movement: Outward

Action; Circulation

Element: Water

Benefit: Harmonious energetic field around body

Chakra: Svadishana, Crown

Pose category; Laterals, flows and salutation

Breath: Pranayama with retention

 

Definition

This is the most subtle of the vayus…Outward moving air… governing the pranic flow of energy from the core of the body to the periphery and activates a harmonious flow of prana throughout the entire body.

Vyana Vayu is considered the aura, or the field of prana that surrounds the body. Vyana feeds, enlivens and fuels the entire body, but also all the other vayus.

 

Location

All over the body

This energy although it flows all throughout the body, harmonizing all the prana in the body, and associated with the crown or svadishana chakra, it is also said to have a concentration at the heart and lungs.

 

Expression

Alignment

 

Movement

Outward; from the inner core of the body to the outer periphery of the body

Circulating prana all over the body and around the body as a protective sheild.

 

Action

Circulation

Vyana Vayu is responsible for circulating the prana and life force within the body to harmonize and integrate all the other vayus and energy systems. The circulating affect of Vyana expands outward beyond the body to help create the subtle body called the pranamaya kosha or aura.

 

Element

Water

 

Benefit of a balanced and harmonized Vyana Vayu

Harmonious, unified energetic field around body

Vyana unifies, integrates and harmonizes all the energies in the body including all the other vayus.

Vyana Vayu creates a protective pranic energy field or aura around the physical body, supports pranaymaya kosha and protects against unbeneficial or negative energies from affecting it.

Vyana Vayu invites a conscious transition from more dense and gross to more subtle layers of being.

 

Dysfunctional or Weak Vyana Vayu

Feelings of loneliness, isolation and separation

Thought disturbances, disjointed thinking, racing or rambling thoughts

Nervous breakdowns

Skin disorders

Weak circulation

Under or over active nerve stimulation

 

Chakra

Svadishana, Crown

 

Pose category

Laterals, flows and salutation

A slower lateral flow practice like salutations with emphasis on lateral and including additional laterals. Slower flows rather than going deep into poses or holding for long periods. Moving in a flow, gentle holding with a focus on noticing pranic sensitivity.

Bring attention to Vyana Vayu while practicing asana flows and poses to bring more subtle body sensitivity, fluidity, stability and strength to the body movements.

 

Breath

Pranayama with retention

Practice: Sit comfortable with long spine, on the inhale feel and bring the attention to the prana building in the center of the body behind the chest and naval, growing in power. On the exhale feel, visualize and sense the prana moving outward from the center to the arms, legs, fingers, toes, head, eyes, ears.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prana Vayu Chart

Vayu

Action

Location

Movement

Chakra

Element

Expression

Prana

Crystallization

Back Bends

Heart & chest

All-around

Anahata

Air

Cyclical

Apana

Elimination

Forward Folds

Pelvis

Downward

Muladhara

Earth

Steadiness

Vyana

Circulation

Laterals

All over the body

Outward

Svadisthana

Water

Alignment

Udana

Metabolizing

Inversions

Throat

Upward

Vishuddha & Ajna

Ether

Verbal

Samana

Assimilation

Twists

Navel

Inward

Manipura

Fire

Interna