Breath, Prana, Voice.

Everything in our experience of the world begins and ends with breathing. When we entered the world, the first thing we did was inhale and then (most likely) exhale with sound. Our voices connected us to the world and the people around us. Our physical lives will conclude with a final exhalation. The totality of life lies between our first inhalation and our last exhalation. It’s important to observe that the breath we take at this moment is the only one we will ever truly have. Breath grounds us in the present moment.

Breath can help us connect with our internal energy source, the life force known as prana. Prana is the energy of creation, the force that drives nature toward growth (like a budding flower) and renewal (like falling leaves). Although prana is difficult to define in human beings, we can perceive its presence through the sensations felt within our body-mind when we breathe, move, take action, and create. Prana is the creative force that inspires us to express our deepest selves when we sing, dance, teach, and speak in public, and it provides the power to do so.

Obstacles to prana’s freedom within our bodies and minds can lead to discomfort and illness (dis-ease), affecting our nervous systems, manifesting as pain, and limiting our creativity. For the yoga therapist, barriers to prana’s unrestricted flow can be assessed in a person’s breathing patterns and heard in the subtleties of their voice use. Addressing both through yoga’s healing practices can effectively balance the nervous system and the physical, mental, emotional, and creative aspects that may feel blocked. 

A pranic balance in our body-mind matrix gives us the freedom to use our voices authentically. Our voices represent the energy housed in our bodies, manifesting through sound. YogaVoice® views the voice as an energetic (pranic) instrument for communication and connection. Promoting overall wellness in a person’s body and mind by balancing breath and prana empowers their voice and vice versa.