Prana is a Sanskrit term that refers to the vital life force or energy that animates all living beings and, in many classical traditions, the universe itself. It is often translated as “life force,” “breath of life,” or “vital energy,” and is understood to be the dynamic energetic principle that sustains physical, mental, emotional, and subtle processes within a living organism, being intimately connected with breath and subtle energetics. In yogic and Ayurvedic philosophies, prana is said to flow through a network of subtle channels called nadis and is considered essential for vitality, clarity, resilience, and wellbeing.
In this framework, prana isn’t just physical breath or biological energy—it’s a subtle, pervasive life principle that influences how the body functions and how the mind and emotions are experienced. Practices like pranayama (conscious breathwork) aim to cultivate, balance, and harmonize prana to support optimal health, vitality, and emotional equilibrium.
