Pranayama


Types of Pranayama

Kapalbhati

Anulom Vilom 

Types of Prana

The air (Prana) in the body is known by different names based on their location and functions. There are
main five pranas and five up-pranas in the body.

Location of five pranas and their functions

1. Prana (Respiratory system): The air that functions in the body from the throat (larynx) to the heart is called 'Prana'.
Function: This prana activates and energises nasal passage, throat, larynx, tongue, oesophagus, breathing organs, lungs and heart.

2. Apana (Excretory system): The vital air that moves below the navel (umbilicus) up to muladhara cakra is called 'Apana'.
Function: Faeces, urine, menstrual blood, semen, flatus and foetus are expelled by this air.

3. Udana: The prana which moves in the region between the larynx and the head is known as 'Udana'.
Function: It provides energy to all the organs in the body located in the region above the larynx, viz. eyes, nose, etc. It also lends glow and radiance to the whole face. It activates the whole brain along with the pituitary and pineal glands.

4. Samana (Digestive system): The prana vayu which is active in the region between
 the heart and the navel is called 'Samana'.
Function: It controls the internal functioning of the whole digestive system along with liver, intestines, spleen and pancreas.

5. Vyana (Circulatory system): This vital pranic energy pervades the whole body.
Function: It regulates and controls all activities of the body. It is the vyana prana which activates and energises the muscles, tissues, joints, pulse and all organs of the body.

Besides these five pranas, there are five upa-pranas in the body viz., 'devadatta', 'naga', 'krkala, kurma and 'dhananjaya' which respectively regulate actions like sneezing, blinking, yawning, seratching the itching skin, hiccupping, etc.

The functioning of pranas is linked with pranamaya kosa, and pranayama is mainly responsible for keeping these prans and pranamaya kosa clean, healthy and disease-free, hence the highest importance and utility of pranayama. Before beginning the practice of pranayama, it is necessary to have a comprehensive knowledge of its background.
  
Pranas at a Glance

Main Pranas
Up Pranas
Element
Name
Location
Name
Location
Prana
Region around the heart
Naga
a little above the navel
Anahata
Air
Apana
Abdomen, anus
Kurma
in the eyelids
Muladhara
Earth
Udana
heart, throat, palate, between the eyebrows and in the brain
Devadatta
upper ends of trachea an in the throat
Visuddhi
Ether
Samana
navel and the region around it
Kakala
above the stomach and the edges of trachea
Manipura
Fire
Vyana
connected with svadhisthana cakra and pervading the whole body
Dhananjaya
in the bones, flesh, skin, blood, receptor sensors, hair, etc.,
Svadhishisthana
Water