Three Pillars of Personal Strength & Vitality

Self-care, particularly in Ayurveda, extends beyond physical well-being, emphasizing a balanced lifestyle that nurtures the mind, body, and spirit. Three core concepts in Ayurveda—Prana, Tejas, and Ojas—each represent distinct energies within us that contribute to our overall vitality and health. Nurturing Prana, Tejas, and Ojas through specific practices can promote holistic well-being.

Prana: The Life Force Energy
Prana, the sacred life force, flows through every breath and heartbeat, the invisible yet powerful force of our aliveness. In Ayurveda, Prana is defined as the vital energy responsible for all physiological functions, breath, and consciousness. The Vedas and the Upanishads describe Prana as the "breath of life" or the sustaining life force. The Charaka Samhita depicts Prana as the energy that moves through all beings, influencing functions such as respiration, circulation, and sensory perception.  It is this breath of life that connects us to the world around us and to the universe within. When we care for Prana, we nourish our capacity to connect, feel alive, and be present.

Practices to Support Prana:

1. Pranayama (Breath practice): Pranayama, breath practice, directly enhances Prana by optimizing the flow of life force within the body. Techniques such as Anuloma-Viloma (Alternate Nostril Breathing) help to calm the mind, reduce stress, and improve oxygenation, which are crucial for mental clarity and physical vitality. Try this anuloma-viloma practice… and only practice this if it makes sense in your body. Don’t push into any discomfort. This should feel gentle and relaxing. If it doesn’t, please discontinue the practice.

• Holding your right hand in Vishnu mudra (see picture) place the ring finger and thumb on either side of the nostrils where the bone meets cartilage.
• Closing the right nostril gently, inhale deeply into the left nostril, pause at the top of the breath, close off the left nostril and open the right. Exhale deeply through right nostril, pause at the bottom.
• Repeat on the right side… closing left nostril, inhale through the right nostril, pause at the top, change which nostril is open, exhale through left nostril, pause at the bottom.
• Try this for 5 rounds (meaning you have inhaled and exhaled through both sides for 1 round).
  
• Return to normal breath and notice how you feel.
  

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