Apana Vayu - How to invite grounding into your practice and your life.
When prana moves, chitta (the mental forces) moves. When prana is without movement, chitta is without movement. By this (steadiness of prana) the yogi attains steadiness and should thus restrain the vayu (air). Chapter 2, verse 2 The Hatha Pradipika
Through the exploration of breath the ancient yogis discovered that we have five vayus within the subtle body which governs different functions of prana (life force). Furthermore we as yogis have the ability to affect and change the ways in which prana travels and moves through the subtle body. If you haven't read our previous post check out the introduction of the prana vayus and how they are fundamentally interconnected with our everyday life and practice.
This post will specifically be about Apana Vayu and how it relates to our life, our practice and some tips on restoring and bringing balance to create greater grounding and harmony. Apana vayu is known as the exhalation or the air that moves away from the body. It is located in the lower abdomen and its main function is elimination. When we think of the energetics of Apana vayu it is the grounding, descending force that helps us connect to the earth and find greater stability in our lives.
Apana vayu is at its most potent point during childbirth, the strong surges that move the baby out of the body to takes its very first breath, is apana vayu. The same energy is responsible for our monthly menstruation and when we have too much apana vayu we might experience a strong onset heavy flow or lower back pain. Apana vayu is responsible for the deep sense of surrender you feel when you take a full long exhale out of the mouth.
When Apana vayu is out of balance we have trouble with elimination in the physical body such as constipation or inability to eliminate toxins. We might see the imbalance manifest specifically within the lymphatic system, digestive system, urinary tract system or the reproductive system (specifically menstruation). We might also experience an imbalance in the subtle body such as an underactive Muldhara Chakra resulting in anxiety, disconnection or feeling ungrounded.
When we practice yoga to bring harmony to the descending energy of Apana vayu we aim to create more of a grounding practice with a focus being on the energy drawing downward, outward or away from the body. Asanas that would create balance would fall in the categories of forward folds, seated twists and stabilising balancing postures such as tree posture. A yoga practice aiming to bring balance would be one of longer holds and an opportunity for greater stillness - avoid hot power yoga.
Kapalbhati would be the most relevant pranayama due to the focus being on drawing the air out and away from the body. Although this is an advance technique you can still practice this slowly and gently it does not have to be at a fast past, start small and slow.
As for meditation, think about grounding yourself deep into the earth and base chakra rather than an ascending into the higher chakras. A great way to connect to the apana vayu is by simply going outside standing barefoot on the earth, swimming in the ocean or being in nature.
Apana vayu has the great importance of removing that which is not wanted in the body or in the mind. It is only through the elimination of toxins that keeps the body and mind healthy and disease free. It is through balancing this vayu that life becomes steady and stable, despite what challenges may arise. Your practice takes leaps and bounds by diving deeper and deeper into the subtle realms of prana.
With love
Brooke
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