Wk 91 – Vayus – Samana Vayu
This Yoga practice will offer you strong standing poses and abdominal strengtheners mixed with Pranayama Kriya practices.
When the two opposing energies Pran and Apana Vayu are balanced it is said to awaken Samana Vayu. Samana Vayu is the direction of Prana that is a concentrating, absorbing and consolidating force that digests and assimilates incoming energy. The function is assimilation of prana in all its forms. Samana Vayu collects energy absorbed through breath, food, sensory perception, and is also said to be the gatekeeper of our mental functions absorbing all experiences and mental processes. This integrating action strengthens the body, balances the mind and stabilises the wandering mind drawing and containing attention inwards to moment awareness. This gives us a connection to a powerful motivating force to transform our habits and karmic tendencies as we have mental clarity and courage to truly see ourselves just as we are.
When we are healthy, we benefit from strong digestion as the nutrients are effectively absorbed converting it to energy for the body. This is also reflected in the mind as when we feel healthy we have mental clarity too. Samana Vayu helps gather Prana and assimilates our vitality so we feel we have access to it to help fulfil our duties, responsibilities and desires in life.
Samana Vayu is felt mainly around the solar plexus. This area is connected to Manipura Chakra and is said to be the centre for the transformative power or the abode of the fire element. This is the hub of Pranic energy and vitality, the navel centre, which is essential to hatha yoga. When we talk about Hatha Yoga we refer to a type of forceful yoga that draws two opposing forces together with the aim to increase Prana and transform the patterns of Pranic flow in the body. The result is optimisation of healthy body functions and preparation for higher states of consciousness. In Hatha Yoga the desire is to cultivate Tapas, or heat of positive transformation. This heat comes from the fire of Prana called Agni.
When we practice with a focus on Samana Vayu the intention is to create mental fire, physical fire, digestive fire and energetic fire ultimately to encourage this Tapas on all levels. The energetic expansion of Samana caused by the union of Pran and Apana Vayu at the navel centre also awakens Sushumna Nadi, the central energy channel. This sensitivity to the core line is essential to achieving the ultimate goal of yoga, perfect absorption of the mind in the body resting in the enduring state of Samadhi, absorption on all levels of being. Inner and outer world, mind and body, energy and consciousness. This union of oneness, wholeness and completeness of Samadhi is why we practice.
Working with Samana Vayu empowers you to connect to your potential to be powerfully transformative as you are the conduit to this boundless resource of energy that is powerfully healing, intelligent and inspiring.
