Why Apāna Matters: A Breath Philosophy Mini-Talk

In yoga, Apāna refers to the downward-moving energy of the breath, the exhale that helps us let go. This short talk explains why Apāna matters and how you can work with it to feel more grounded, calm, and centered.

No jargon, just practical wisdom from the Viniyoga approach to Yoga.

Transcript

Today,

I'd like to share a simple idea from the yoga tradition that can make a real difference,

Especially if you often feel anxious,

Restless or overwhelmed.

It's the concept of Upana.

In traditional yoga,

Upana is the name given to the downward moving energy,

Concentrated in the lower abdomen area.

Now,

You don't have to believe in yoga or energy systems to feel what it's pointing to.

Take a moment to think about this.

When you're stressed,

Your breath often becomes short and it tends to be located higher up in the chest.

If you compare that to when you're calm,

Maybe lying on the floor or resting in bed,

You tend to find that you're breathing deeper,

Slower,

Often lower in the body.

And it's that lower,

Slower breath that connects you to the action of Upana.

And what we find is that when we work with this part of the breath,

It can help you to let go.

That might be physically,

Emotionally or mentally.

It helps you to release tension,

To clear the mind and can even support digestion and better sleep.

And the best way to connect to the action of Upana is simply to focus on your exhale.

Try letting it lengthen gently.

Try allowing it to lead you downwards and inwards.

If it helps,

You can place your hands on your lower belly while you breathe out to draw attention to that area.

If you're more visual,

You can imagine the breath flowing down into the earth.

Whichever technique you use,

It doesn't have to be complicated.

It just needs to work for you.

Just a few minutes of noticing your exhale each day can change your whole nervous system.

So next time you're feeling a little bit scattered or stuck,

Maybe in your head,

Remember the power of Upana.

Bring your breath low and let it lead you back to that grounded feeling.

Thank you for joining me today.