Light on Yoga - Day 29



Tribute to Guruji and Light on Yoga - Day 29

Vayus

 

The word Vayu translates to mean wind energy.  In the body there is said to be five main divisions.

They are prana vaya, apana vayu, samana vayu, udana vayu and vyana vayu.

 

Prana Vayu - moves the vital energy in the region of the heart and controls respiration

 

Apana Vayu - moves in the sphere of the lower abdomen and controls the function of elimination urine and faeces

 

Samana Vayu - aids in digestion by stoking the gastric fires

 

Udana Vayu - moves in the thoracic cavity and controls the intake of air and food

 

Vyana Vayu - pervades the entire body and distributes the energy derived from food and breath.

 

 

 

Mr. Iyengar also describes 5 subsidiary vayus.  They are naga, kurma, krkara, devadatta and dhanamjaya.

 

In Light on Yoga he describes these as:

Naga: relieving abdominal pressure by belching

Kurma: controls the movement of the eyelids to prevent foreign matter or bring light from entering

Krkara: prevents substances from passing up the nasal passages and down the throat by making on sneeze or cough.

Davadatta: provides intake of extra oxygen - yawning

Dhanamjaya: remains in the body after death and sometimes bloats a corpse.

 

I find the meeting of the different vayus very interesting when you consider how the elements can interact in our outer world.  I love the idea of the aura - Vyana which integrates all the vayus.



 

 

Namaste.

Pamela Nelson

www.plnyoga.blogspot.com