Resting in the Joy of Vyana- The Omnipresent Winds of Prana

7/8/2024

Omnipresent- “present in all places at all times" - Merriam-Webster

As I come to the page today, I’m mindful of my breath, rediscovering gratitude as my support and anchor from the aliveness felt within my body. There is much for me to integrate, reflecting a rajasic (energized) rhythm that feels sped up internally, alongside an environment that feels slowed down. I’m present to that feeling of the future on the horizon and the need to pace myself with the resource of steadiness. Steady, alert, and kind. How is the aliveness in your body at present?

For those in this region, we’ve been experiencing a heat wave alongside all the things :). I'm trusting that other parts of the world too, experiencing tries and challenges. The heat can impact us in various ways—our daily rhythms, sleep, and energy expenditure, our prana. I’m finding myself with some dissonance, striving to keep my heart open, spacious, and willing, while also remaining steady in service to myself and others.

This theme of reciprocity and leaning into Cancer’s gifts of the feminine, the intuitive, returning home to the heart. To receiving and offering—these all reflect in my nervous system. Let’s stay curious and explore together today, this week, into the continued learning of the winds of life force—the vayus of prana.

I welcome you to lean slightly back in your seat, and allow your posture to support you without force. Let your shoulders soften, bring gentle movement of the head, neck and a releasing of the jaw and tongue as you draw yourself a bit more inward. Perhaps bringing one hand toward your heart space as you take in 10 steady rounds of breath- let the eyes soften or close.

As you continue to take in these words, I'll welcome you to listen to the rhythm of your heart. Consider all that is moving within you without your need to do anything. Nerves, blood & circulation, respiration. All the systems that support on your behalf. How they give and receive. This circulation, a reciprocity of expansion and contraction, imagine the movement or experience like soft, voluminous clouds. Fluid and seeming still as they live in the sky.

Imagine lying on a bed of cool grass, gazing up and witnessing this sky, the clouds, that quality of soft movement on a sunny day. And then, visualize- were you to be in that cloud? Like the experience of walking through the clean haze of fog on a bright morning (such as the image for this post)- a breeze and subtle density of water the permeates- but with a quality of lightness.

This my friends, is Vyana Vayu.

Vyana Vayu- is the omnipresent wind. It is the element of water. Perhaps further, how water and space dance or sing. As my teacher recently offered- it has no shape for itself. It fills the shape of the container in which it permeates. Like a fog in space, subtle and bright, tiny droplets not even present, and yet you might sense this as a gentle hug. A light humidity that supports. It is the expression of movement, of heart and circulation, and also of deep connection that requires no effort. It can be both experienced in movement, and also resting in, arrived at if you will. The awe that you may experience in nature, at the end of a yoga practice or being in community, in the suchness where there is presence and peace.

The invitation here is to bring in more Vyana vayu into your life, like nourishing water, both dense and subtle- to your tissues and your temperament. A fluidity, grace, and connection. With the warm weather, consider in Ayurveda how like attracts like and opposites heal. Welcome cooling practices that are nourishing. Self-massage, balanced movement and breath that expands and returns with ease and breadth. Coming home to the sweetness in the simple- through the senses with balance, without need to overindulge (as we consider lessons from Udana vayu from last week).

This week, may you occupy more feelings of expansiveness and connection, letting yourself rest in the joy. A balanced Vyana vayu will bring the qualities of contentment (santosha) and enthusiasm, nonviolence (ahimsa), more love toward all things. Should you find yourself easily distracted, more hypervigilant, challenged with boundaries or a bit more closed. Should you sense feelings like a distanced or broken heart, disconnection. Should you find a need for more nourishment toward what is tender or overly-energized, a deterioration of your life force. May you welcome more vyana vayu. Nature and nourishment, kindness toward yourself and connection to your heart, all that supports it within you. And the remembrance that you are not alone. All the others also on this path of wellness, whole-hearted fulfillment, and peace. Ohm Shanti.

Deep gratitude for your willingness, what might feel elusive at times. And for your listening, especially toward yourself and your Svadhyaya (self study). I'll extend my continued offerings below, staying open, and would love for your shares to connect to our greater community of need in wellness. I'll leave you with this inspiration from Morgan Harper Nichols, considering rhythm like music, like the waters that emulate Vyana Vayu. Keep holding space for the music of your life ✨️.

"What music shows us is that it’s possible to embrace movement while also valuing stillness. Life moves through various tempos and volumes. May you create room to discover and rediscover the beauty in this range of experiences, again and again, through all the rhythms, tones, and cadences of life. Let yourself “not do anything” for a moment, or even several moments, however you can – for this, too is a part of the music."

Here with you in practice. In Love & Light.

-Maya

Come explore Vyana Vayu with me this week! Online or in Person- offerings here, connect, follow on social, share. Above all, take in wholehearted week.