It is the vital force or vital energy. Prana is the vital link between the astral body and the physical bodies, but it is mainly in the nadis of the astral body that it flows as shown in the drawing above. According to yogis, prana is omnipresent, it is everywhere and exists in everything. It is prana (life force) that which animates the oxygen atom or the electron. Prana is a form of energy, no nuclear physicist would deny it (it is the power house of the universe and of every cell of our body). This prana can be stored in the nervous system, more particularly in the SOLAR PLEXUS through special controlled breathing exercises. We know of the delicate system of arteries and veins composing the circulatory system of our bodies. But there is a far more delicate and subtle circulatory system throughout the body, a system that carries the life force to every atom. Through your nervous system this life force is sent to a set of cells in the brain. These cells, in turn, act as a distributor for the force and it is sent out to every atom of the body along the nerves, for which it has an affinity. This force also acts as a protection for the nerves. If the life force is dissipated, the cells become set and cannot be replaced by new cells that are formed to take their place. Instead, the new cells are eliminated instead of the old cells, which gradually decompose and die. If the life force is conserved, the cells change as readily at one hundred years as at ten. (Ref: Book title: Masters of the Far East). Dogs breathe very quickly, using the mouth more than the nose. They are very active and fast. Thus they only live for about 15 years, 20 at the most. A turtle for example, does not breathe with its nose alone. It use’s its internal body, its abdomen, each breath takes about 2 minutes. It moves slowly and quietly. So on average they live for 200 years or more, the longest-lived turtle was 300 years old. Find out the facts for yourself. The Elephant, Crocodile, Snake and other animals noted for there longevity have a breathing rate which is less than man’s. Mice live for 3 months at the most because the mouse heart beats 1,000 beats per minute. Slow down your heart and you’re breathing so that you can gain a long life span and quality of life that is full of beauty throughout. The facts speak for themselves. (REF : From a BBC 2 documentary titled : How to build a human being.) Since our state of mind is reflected in the way we breathe, it follows that by controlling our breath each of us can learn to control our own state of mind. By regulating our breathing we thus not only increase our intake of oxygen and prana, but prepare ourselves for the practise of concentration and meditation. When we are calm and composed, our behaviour is non-violent. Mastering the breath will motivate each of us to act with calmness in most situations. It will become a habit firstly to act with awareness and calmness, unless one’s life is in danger.

Book title: The Sivananda Companion to YOGA Ref: ISBN 0-671-47088-4

This drawing is an ancient parchment showing ht main nadis and the position of those vital points, the chakras. Please note the author has drawn the nadis outside the body for reasons of clarity but they are situated within the body. What is portrayed here is not the exact paths but the correspondence between the lines of force, their beginnings and their distribution and centres (chakras). Nadi is the vital force motion-lines; the nadis are not physical channels, neither nerves nor blood vessels. Chakras are the subtle centres. The chakras are centres of energy in the astral body. An atom is built up of particles, which are so minute in size that they are not visible. The chakras are more subtle than atoms and particles. If an atom can contain a tremendous amount of energy, why should not a chakra, which is infinitely subtle, containing energy which is practically unlimited in quantity and capacity? The chakra energy can be aroused and controlled by Pranayaam and Dhyaan (meditation). Pranayaam is a system of bio-energy control through short-quick and long-slow breathing and breath suspension exercises. It could be described as the psycho-physiological process of the activation of the various chakras, accompanied by the awakening of consciousness of these energy centres.

Book title: Pranayama, The Yoga of Breathing by Andre van Lysebeth Ref: ISBN 0-04-149050-9