Samana Vayu

Samana Vayu is located in the abdomen, with the center at the navel.  It is a wind that circulates in a spiral, and draws inward.

It is associated with Fire element.

Samana has to do with digestion and circulation, even of thoughts and emotions.  Do we hold memories and pain until they harden, or do we let them move through us and become assimilated and free?  Movement is what we want; freedom, waves, fluidity, breath.

Samana Vayu is an inward movement.  Draw your attention inward, rest it on your navel center, and imagine a spiral that flows and moves freely.

Poses that build heat and draw in cultivate this vayu.  Spinal twists, abdominal work.

Soften and expand the abdomen in restorative poses, like supported bridge and legs up the wall (with a bolster under your pelvis).  Let the energy circulate freely.

The Vayus are linked to the chakras; you can learn more about this vayu by studying the manipura chakra.

Apana Vayu

Apana Vayu is the downward flow of energy.  It is associated with the exhalation, elimination, and release of bodily fluids.

It is associated with Earth element and Water element.

Apana Vayu is seen in the root system of plants.

It's center is in the pelvic region.

Freedom of movement in the pelvic region is associated with health in the reproductive organs.

Cultivate Apana Vayu through hip openers, grounding through the legs and feet, restorative poses.  There elements are steadying, cooling, and relaxing.

Prana vayu

Prana vayu is situated in the head, at the third eye point.

It flows inwards and upwards.

It nourishes the brain and eyes, and governs reception of all things: food, air, senses, and thoughts.

Prana vayu is the fundamental energy in the body.

This vayu is seen in plants as photosynthesis.  Leaves reach to the sun.

Prana vayu helps brighten the pose and create upward lift, length, and extension.

Prana vayu: air, chest region, inhalation, energy, absorption, vitality

Air is an outward force

Vinyasa cultivates Prana.  Inhalation increases Prana.

- for citations see previous post

5 Vayus

Vayu translates as air, wind, or unseen forces.  The vayus relate to the "airy" vital forces of the body.

Each of the 5 elements should be balanced in each part of yoga practice.

The vayus are winds that are responsible for the movement of prana, or life energy, through the body.

In the Vedas, Vayu is the Wind God; Master of Life, Inspirer of breath and the dynamic energy of Prana.

Prana is continuously moving through us in all directions.  Yoga practice allows us to tune into and harness this flow so that we can increase our vitality and power.

- sites cited:

http://singingheartyoga.blogspot.com/2011/08/5-prana-vayus.html?m=1

http://www.thesecretsofyoga.com/yoga-articles/vayu-dosa.html

http://www.yogabasics.com/learn/the-five-vayus.html

I lounge on the grass

I lounge on the grass, that's all. So
simple. Then I lie back until I am
inside the cloud that is just above me
but very high, and shaped like a fish.
Or, perhaps not. Then I enter the place
of not-thinking, not-remembering, not-
wanting. When the blue jay cries out his
riddle, in his carping voice, I return.
But I go back, the threshold is always
near. Over and back, over and back. Then
I rise. Maybe I rub my face as though I
have been asleep. But I have not been
asleep. I have been, as I say, inside
the cloud, or, perhaps, the lily floating
on the water. Then I go back to town
to my own house, my own life, which has
now become brighter and simpler, some-where I have never been before…

- Mary Oliver
from "Six Recognitions of the Lord"
from the collection "Thirst"