Yoga isn’t just about stretching the body or calming the mind, it’s a deep exploration of energy. At the heart of this exploration lies Prana, the life force that animates every cell, breath, and thought.
But prana doesn’t move randomly. It flows in specific directions and patterns, known in yogic tradition as the five Vayus — the five vital winds.
In Sanskrit, Vayu means “wind” or “movement.” These energetic currents govern everything from how we breathe and move to how we digest experience, express ourselves, and feel connected. Learning to recognise and work with the five Vayus can help you:
What are the five Vayus?
Each Vayu has a distinct direction of movement and an area of influence, both physically and energetically. Together, they form a complete system for understanding the subtle body in motion:
What to expect from this series
Over the coming weeks, we’ll explore each of the five Vayus in depth, one post at a time. You’ll learn how each one influences your physical body, mental state and energetic field, along with practical tools to support balance: asana, breathwork, meditation and daily routines.
We’ll also look at how you can integrate this understanding into your teaching, whether you guide slow flows, energetic practices or simply want to bring more nuance to how you work with prana.
