Prana

Spring is blossoming in my mom's garden in Santa Monica.

Prana is our life-force.  It’s our breath, flowing through as at all times, and our energy, traveling through channels in the body called nadis.  We can harness this energy, through the bandhas, like moola and uddihyana, and through focused, concentrated, controlled breathing (pranayama).  When you begin to tap into this energy, essentially becoming aware to what has always been there, you can use it as fuel for the asana practice and for your entire life.  Without awareness, prana is intangible, but as the tiny flicker of awareness begins to dawn, prana can become very real.  Think about energy flowing through your body and try to become aware to subtle shifts in your energy levels.  See how engaging the bandhas can become like a lock for this energy in your body, so that you can use it for strength in certain poses.  Breathe deeply and fully to keep prana flowing and release stagnation.