Udana Vayu: the air that flies up

Prana means universal creator energy and it manifests itself in all of nature. Vayu would be what we can call “internal winds”. Udana Vayu is one of the five Prana Vayus, governing a vital function of our body. In this article, we are going to present to you all the aspects of Udana Vayu.

Udana Vayu

Udana Vayu can be translated as “the air that flies up” and is seen as the gateway to the higher states of our consciousness. This energy moves clockwise and is centered on the throat and head. Physically, its function is to carry energy from the base of our backbone to the brain.

As it is located in this region, Udana is responsible for the functioning of our five senses. It regulates the communication, the production of sounds, the voice, the singing and the swallowing of what we eat. In addition, it also allows our thinking and expression.

Udana Vayu also plays an important role in strengthening our core and the growth of our body. It helps in the good physical constitution, in our motor and standing capacity.

Energetically, Udana Vayu is located in the Vishudda Chakra, our vital center that sits in the middle of our throat. Emotionally, this Vayu corresponds to our enthusiasm and willpower before life.

It is imperative to keep the Vayus always in balance. If the energy of Udana Vayu is blocked, we can have problems related to our ability to communicate and our throat in general, affecting our hearing, taste and smell.

Problems of vision and the difficulty in reaching the elevation of our conscience while we meditate are also related to the malfunction of Udana Vayu.

The color of Udana Vayu is teal and its element is the air.

How to balance your Udana Vayu

First, you need to work on the ability to feel your Vayus. Once you acquire knowledge of the energies that circulate in your body, it is easier to know when they are out of order and take care of them.

To get in touch with Udana, we must do something different from what we are used to. Breathe through the foot (that’s right!) or pelvic area (if sitting) to the spine and exhale through the throat.

Monitor the chest cavity elevation as you inhale. This will help expand the upper thorax and back and open the shoulder joints, creating a clearer perspective.

You can work Udana Vayu through some asanas:

1. Standing, supine or sitting asanas

When inhaling: imagine your breath starting from the ground and passing to the soles of the feet. Feel the air rising through your legs, spine and reaching the chest.

On exhaling: invite the energy to continue rising to the top of your head.

2. Inverted asanas

When inhaling: imagine your breathing beginning in the hands and/or arms (whatever is in contact with the ground). Feel the air rising through the arms and trunk, while along the inspiration.

On exhaling: move your breath through your legs so that it comes out through the soles of your feet.

Asanas to balance Udana Vayu:

• Belly backbends
• Virabhadrasana I
• Utkatasana
• Garudasana

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