Kundalini Yoga Glossary
Prana
The life force carried on the breath, the subtle counterpart to oxygen.
Meaning
What Prana Means
Prana means life force. It is the subtle aspect of the breath, distinct from its gross chemical composition of oxygen, nitrogen and other elements: the vital force that energizes the mind, body and consciousness.
The breath carries both prana, taken in on the inhale, and apana, released on the exhale, the toxins and used energy the body eliminates. Prana is the root of Pranayama, formed together with ayana, meaning extension, expansion or regulation: the extension of one's life force.
In Practice
How It’s Used
Long Deep Breathing is the main technique used to work with prana: expanding and contracting the lungs to their full capacity produces a more effective exchange, drawing in the greatest possible amount of prana on the inhale and releasing apana on the exhale.
Most people use only a fraction of their lung capacity in daily life, which limits how much prana they take in. Breathing deeply and consciously is described as expanding that capacity many times over, with effects on patience, intuition and the pituitary gland's own secretion.
