When we talk of energy, we mainly think about the energies we get from Sun, Water, Food and Air. However, there is one more type of energy; which is self-generated and whose quality can be refined and directed.
This energy travels from cell to cell within the body, has vibrations, thereby generating a kind of electric current or electrical energy. This vital energy force is Prana – which connects our body and mind.
What is Prana?
According to ancient scriptures, Prana is the first energy. The word Prana comes from the Sanskrit root ‘Pra’ which means first and ‘na’, which means the smallest unit of energy; from which arise all other forms of energy.
It is Omnipotent, doesn’t have any shape, smell, colour, taste or form; and it can neither be created nor destroyed, but can be transformed from one form to another.
Prana is required for processing all vital functions of our body, which includes respiration, assimilation, digestion, elimination and healing. However, most of the time, we tend to take these functions for granted and hence, indirectly, we take our health for granted too.
Prana the energy varies with the state of mind & body
Our state of mind has a direct link to the amount of energy we have. A peaceful and balanced person will have more energy than a stressful and imbalanced person. The main cause of our health issues is the energy crunch. But our body is smart and sensible enough to know how, when and where to use this energy. It will direct it according to the body’s needs and requirements.
If, for example, energy is immediately needed for the process of digestion, then it will redirect the energies from the other areas to the digestive system.
However in case we are down with a certain infection or are battling a disease, then it requires more amounts of Prana. Our body may not be able to fulfill the desired requirements, if our base line energy levels are already down. This low energy level can be due to multiple reasons like an unhealthy lifestyle, environmental conditions, emotional or physical stress.
Due to this lack of energy, our body is unable to heal itself; as vital processes of our body get affected and do not function at their best. Hence, we feel lethargic, sick and unwell.
Remember, good health cannot be defined as just a disease free body. Good health happens when all the organs and vital systems of our body work at their optimal level; so that, if there are any sorts of environmental changes, our body responds appropriately.
To recharge our Prana, we must not only make lifestyle changes, but also connect ourselves with the divine or higher consciousness; who is the Power House of all energy.
What do we do when our phone battery gets discharged? We connect it to a charger to recharge it, right? Likewise, what could we do when we feel drained out, low or lack enthusiasm? We need to connect to the best energy charger we can ever have; that too free of cost.
This charger is none other than God himself. So, let us connect with him via Meditation, Pranayama and Prayer to regain our Prana and share our energy around.
Understanding Prana
If we know how to work with Prana, we can transform all the negative issues in our life into positives; such as, ill health into well-being, stress into peace of mind, a not so good relationship into a strong healthy bond.
We all have experienced the ‘high vibes’ and ‘low vibes’ at some point in time. These energies are nothing but Prana.
High vibrational moments are full of Prana – emitting love, happiness, joy, unity and peace. Low vibrational moments lack vitality and work on all kinds of negative emotions; such as, fear, anger, jealously. In our everyday life, sometimes we come across people whom we hardly know, but still we tend to like those people; because they radiate positive energies and vibrations.
Just being around them lifts up our spirit, because they emit positivity. It could be the other way round too. People with low vibrations exude an aura, which is not positive in nature. We can compare these people with energetic vampires, who suck in energies instead of giving it out. Not just people, even places and our meals have vibrations.
Places like forests, hills, temples, yoga studios and meditation rooms all usually have high vibrations; while hospitals, banks, workplaces etc may have low vibrations, depending upon the relationship you share with the place.
High vibe meals include fresh, well cooked food with active life nutrients from plants. Low vibe foodS include microwave cooked dinners, chips, sodas, some breads etc as they lack the life force. Always remember, vibrations and energies speak louder than words.
Prana and Breath are not the same
Prana is related to breath but actually, it is not breath. Breath is the medium through which Prana moves. Breath is a vehicle and Prana is the passenger.
If we have to transport goods from one place to another, then we need a vehicle for transportation. In Yogic terms, this vehicle is breath and the goods/ things are nothing but Prana. The vehicle should be serviced well and kept in good condition, to allow Prana to move freely into our system.
We therefore need to work on our breath, in order to work on our Prana. We can live without food and water for days, but we cannot live without Prana. If Prana leaves our body, we die.
The art of mastering the Prana is called Pranayama. So let us all live consciously and master the art of Pranayama, to lead a Healthy and Disease free life!
Here’s a short introduction to the concept of Pranayama https://youtu.be/i-1Y7FfezK8
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A very systematic and lucid explanation of “Prana” , a term often used but not well understood.