Downward Facing Blog

As I wrote about in a previous post, the energetic anatomy of your breath/energy body is made up primarily five flows of prana, each moving in a different pattern or direction. Basically  there is:

1. a downwards/ eliminating (apana)
2. upwards along the spine (udana),
3. a contracting/assimilating force (samana)
4. an expanding direction (vyana)
5. Inward moving (prana)

I’ll dedicate a post to each movement of energy and a visualization exercise to help you feel it;

Apana is the downward moving force of elimination. It gives a sense of stability and grounding and also governs defecation, ejaculation, menstruation, and childbirth. When it is too strong, it pulls the mind into an increased focus on sensory gratification, and then into tamasic depression. If it is too low, then you will be ungrounded and experience an increase in vata-like conditions.

There is this tendency in Ashtanga to have this bias against apana vayu, to continuously lift and redirect it upwards using mula and uddiyana bandha. However, Prana builds up the mind and nerves but Apana builds up the bones and the body. Apana has a connection with Ojas and the reproductive system, which has more subtle connections with our immunity and our ability to have love and faith.  A strong apana is necessary to to store the prana and nutrition from your food in to the body.

Most diseases result from too-high Vata dosha, and yoga is first and foremost vata treatment. The point is,  despite this emphasis on upward movement in most yoga teaching, which IS important, it’s equally important to have a strong downward force.

I find it interesting that there is, if you break it down, an emphasis towards the male (solar, right-side first), and somewhat anti-sexual, transcending emphasis in yoga constantly. That deserves another post though… SEX and yoga, which is super-interesting.

IN the meantime, take a moment to breathe and visualize and experience apana:

The Apana breath

Take a deep breath down to the base of the spine, and at the same time feeling your body like a tall mountain. Visualize a downward-facing dark blue triangle in the lower abdomen. Hold the breath and energy at the base of the spine then when you exhale, ground your energy down through the feet and legs if you are standing, or through the base of the spine if you are seated. Practice this ten times. This breath is remedy for reproductive problems, and builds the immune system.