You’re moving your body, breathing deeply… so why do you still feel stuck? Let’s talk about the Vayus.
Have you ever felt stuck in an emotional state—anger, fear, or frustration—without knowing how to shift it? Or noticed how one person’s energy can affect the whole room? Our energy isn’t static; it moves. And in yoga, we have a framework that helps us understand how it moves: the five Vayus.
Teaching the Vayus in the Yoga Immersion Program has become one of my favorite sessions because it’s often a lightbulb moment for students. It’s where they begin to feel energy in a tangible way—how it moves, shifts, and influences not just our own state but also the people around us. Once we understand this, we gain the power to change our energy intentionally.
This masterclass is part of our Yoga Teacher Training in Townsville, one of the most loved sessions in the program because of its profound impact on how students experience energy—in their bodies, minds, and relationships.
What Are the Vayus?
In yoga, Vayu means “wind” or “movement of energy.” The ancient yogis mapped out five Prana Vayus, or five ways that energy flows through us:
- Prana Vayu (Inward & Upward Energy) – Governs intake: breath, food, sensory impressions. Located in the heart and lungs, it’s what fuels inspiration and vitality.
- Apana Vayu (Downward & Outward Energy) – Governs elimination: digestion, excretion, and emotional release. Rooted in the lower abdomen, it’s about letting go—physically and emotionally.
- Samana Vayu (Centering Energy) – Governs digestion and absorption—not just of food, but of life’s experiences. Found at the navel, it’s the energy of balance and assimilation.
- Udana Vayu (Rising Energy) – Governs growth, speech, and self-expression. Located in the throat and head, it’s the energy of confidence and purpose.
- Vyana Vayu (Expanding Energy) – Governs circulation and connectivity. It’s the underlying support system that helps prana move fluidly through the whole body.
When Prana Gets Stuck: Why Stiffness, Pain & Emotional Blocks Happen
Have you ever felt like no matter how much you stretch, certain areas of your body remain stubbornly tight? Or noticed that chronic tension in your shoulders or hips seems to mirror emotional stress? That’s because prana—your life force energy—can get stuck.
When prana isn’t flowing well, we experience stiffness, pain, lack of mobility, and even injury. Blocked energy doesn’t just show up physically; it can manifest as feeling emotionally stuck—like being caught in a loop of frustration, fear, or overwhelm with no clear way out.
The good news? You can move energy just like you move your body. Through specific postures, breathwork, and awareness, you can redirect prana to free up stuck areas, both physically and emotionally. This is where the Vayus come in—they offer a framework for understanding and working with your energy in a powerful, intentional way.
Why Is It Helpful to Know About the Vayus?
Just like we move our physical body to feel stronger and more at ease, we can move our energy to feel more grounded, centered, and clear-minded. The Vayus give us an internal map for how to do this. When we start working with these energies consciously, everything changes:
Stuck in low energy? Activating Udana Vayu lifts and inspires you.
Feeling overwhelmed? Engaging Apana Vayu helps you release and reset.
Struggling with balance? Strengthening Samana Vayu brings stability.
When we learn to shift our own energy, we also influence those around us.
How Yoga Helped Me See My Own Energy—and Change It
I used to find it hard to get myself out of anger and fear energy – I still do – but I am getting better. I wasn’t always aware of how these states affected my family—until I started seeing it reflected in my daughter. Watching her mirror back my frustration or my anxious energy was the wake-up call I needed. I realised that if I wanted to help her feel calm and supported, I needed to learn how to regulate my own energy first.
Through yoga, I became more aware of how my own emotional state affected not just me, but my loved ones. Learning to shift my energy through breathwork, movement, and awareness changed the way I respond to stress, frustration, and fear. And this is exactly why I love teaching the Vayus—because once you know how to work with energy, you can consciously create the state of being you want.
