As someone who lives with Fibromyalgia and other chronic conditions, I’m obsessed with energy, the ebb and flow of it. I’m obsessed with what gives me energy, what makes my ‘prana’ flow and also what depletes my energy and disrupts the flow of my prana.

At the heart of yoga lies the very powerful concept of Prana – the vital force life that creates and animates the entire cosmos. It’s the energy that pulsates through every atom and molecule, every being and non-being.

The whole universe- whatever there is – vibrates having originated from prana.
Kathoponishad (2:3:2)

But, prana is more than just physical energy. It is our very essence and is intrinsically linked to our consciousness. Both prana and consciousness have to be present for life to exist. In Sanskrit a living being is called a prani, one who has prana and is thus conscious.

When prana moves, chitta (consciousness ) moves
When prana is without movement, chitta is without movement.
Hatha Yoga Pradipika

When prana leaves the body, consciousness departs. In most Indian languages, death is referred to as prana leaving the body. However, prana is not to be confused with breath. Breath is the external manifestation of prana. Breath is gross while prana is subtle. Yogis have been known to stay alive for over fifteen minutes to an hour with no breath, having slowed down their hear rate to imperceptible by simply drawing upon their prana.

According to yoga and ayurveda we human beings are made up of five layers or five bodies. Encased within the outermost Annamaya kosha or the physical body lies the Pranamaya kosha or the energy body. This energy body is subtle and invisible. It is not bound by physical form and can hence radiate far beyond the physical body. When a person when enters a room, we often feel the energy of even from a distance, don’t we?That is prana.

Our prana then is central to who we are and how we live and function in our body and mind. It is our ability to both be and do. When you see a person with an abundance of energy, focus and drive we say he is full of prana or life force. While a person who is ill or fatigued is deemed to have less prana.

Prana and Chronic Illness

In the context of chronic conditions then, prana becomes particularly significant. We all know that even though chronic conditions manifest in the physical body, the cause is often elsewhere. And they affect more just our physical body. Chronic illnesses often disrupt the balance of energy, leading to physical, emotional, and mental stress. When we live with chronic conditions, we are depleted of our life force, our prana shakti or vital energy. So to heal we need to replenish and balance our prana.

To understand prana is to discover the very source of your power. It is the secret to your wellbeing, the pathway to a deeper connection with yourself and greater healing. Learning to enhance our prana can completely change how we manage, overcome and even heal our chronic illnesses, chronic pain and fatigue.

Prana is not static or constant. It flows through the body via nadis or energy channels, like rivers and is always changing. Much like the Qi in Chinese Traditional Medicine. It can be used up and depleted but also be expanded and replenished.

The purpose of yoga and pranayama is to help us channel and harness the power of our prana. Practices like pranayama (breath control), meditation, and mindful movement are designed to restore and enhance the flow of prana and improve your physical and mental energy. Yogis have been known to achieve great feats like holding their breath for a long time or not needing to eat for many days by mastering their prana. While we may not aspire to that we can definitely use our prana to heal and restore our bodies.

This ancient wisdom is now being validated by modern science. New research shows how specific yoga and pranayama techniques can increase your energy and help you heal by resetting your nervous system, strengthening your respiratory system, improving your heart rate variability, reducing inflammation, improving mental clarity and so much more.

How Yoga Gets the Prana Flowing

  1. Calmer Nervous System

Chronic conditions often place the body in a prolonged state of stress, trapping the sympathetic nervous system in a continuous “fight or flight” response. Practices like gentle stretches, pranayama and yoga nidra get the prana flowing and activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the “rest and digest” response. This shift reduces heart rate, lowers blood pressure, and decreases the production of stress hormones like cortisol. As a result, the body becomes less reactive to stressors and begins to rest and heal from within.

  1. Reduced Inflammation

Inflammation is a common underlying factor in many chronic conditions, such as nervous pain disorders, autoimmune disorders, arthritis, and cardiovascular diseases. Research shows that pranayama techniques and meditation can modulate immune system activity by reducing the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Lowering systemic inflammation, promotes tissue repair and reduces pain or discomfort associated with chronic illnesses.

  1. Improved Resilience

Resilience refers to the body’s ability to recover from setbacks and adapt to stress. Chronic illnesses often weaken resilience, leaving us more vulnerable to fluctuations in our health. Practices that build up prana, strengthen this resilience by improving emotional regulation, enhancing mental clarity, and fostering a sense of inner stability.

For instance, slow, rhythmic breathing is shown to improve oxygenation and energy levels, and increase heart rate variability, helping the body adapt more effectively to physical challenges. Over time, this can lead to improved symptom management, more energy reserves and a better quality of life.

  1. Better Symptom Management

When the nervous system is calm and prana is flowing, inflammation is controlled, and resilience is strengthened, the body is better equipped to manage symptoms associated with chronic conditions. For example:

Pain: Controlled breathing helps release endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers, offering relief.

Fatigue: Enhanced oxygenation from breath-focused practices boosts energy levels.

Emotional Strain: Meditation and mindfulness reduce anxiety and depression, common in chronic conditions.

  1. Greater Understanding of One’s Energy

A holistic yoga practice that fosters a deeper connection of mind, body and breath can help us understand that we are more than just our physical bodies.

We are beings of energy. The more we understand our energy, its patterns, the ebb and flow, the better we become at channeling it. We can move with the flow instead of pushing against it. For those of us who live with chronic pain and fatigue, this awareness can be life changing. It can help us navigate our conditions with greater acceptance and ease and lightness.

For the first time in human history, lifestyle or chronic illnesses have overtaken communicable diseases as the leading cause of death. Integrating Prana focussed practices into our health care routine can offer a holistic approach to chronic care, complementing medical treatments and improving longevity and overall well-being.

Further reading :

http://www.yogamag.net/archives/1980s/1982/8205/8205pran.html