In yogic and Ayurvedic traditions, prāṇa is the vital force that flows through the nāḍīs (energy channels), supporting every physiological and energetic function. While it is most commonly accessed through breath, prāṇa also flows through food, water, sunlight, and connection with nature. When prāṇa is abundant and balanced, we feel healthy, alert, and deeply at ease. When it is depleted or blocked, we may experience fatigue, confusion, or chronic tension.

Prāṇāyāma is the conscious regulation of breath to direct prāṇa through the system. Far more than a breathing exercise, it is a subtle and potent practice that calms the mind, clears emotional residue, and opens spiritual awareness. Techniques such as alternate nostril breathing (nāḍī shodhana), retention (kumbhaka), and cooling breath (śītalī) each have unique effects on the body and energy field.

Working with the breath also impacts the autonomic nervous system. Slow, deep breathing can shift the body out of fight-or-flight mode and into a state of parasympathetic rest and repair. Rhythmic breathing balances the hemispheres of the brain, grounds scattered thoughts, and creates space for stillness. Over time, breath awareness becomes an anchor, returning you to presence even in moments of stress or overwhelm.

Breath is one of the few bodily functions that is both automatic and voluntary, making it a powerful bridge between the conscious and unconscious. By learning to listen to and influence your breath, you awaken an inner intelligence that restores balance on every level. You don’t need to force the breath. Just meet it, honour it, and let it teach you how to live with more grace.