Pranic Healing - Yoga's Daily Self-Care

I first read about “pranic healing” in Swami Vishnu-devananda’s translation of the Hatha Yogapradipika. Swamiji was expounding on the ancient healing wisdom of Swami Swatmarama, who wrote this classic Yogic text in the early 15th century CE. Briefly, Pranic Healing is an ancient approach to modern illness, one that addresses physical, mental and spiritual dis-ease.

As a Yogini I use Pranic Healing often in very casual ways, like during Yoga class, when adjusting a student. When I gently align a student’s neck, or apply gentle pressure to one of the quads, or softly palpate the spinal erectors, I am allowing Prana – a universal life-force energy – to flow freely from my hands to the student.

Today, many have become familiar with acupressure and acupuncture, and so consider the energy work involved here to be strictly Oriental. This is not the case. For example, Thai Yoga Massage – considered the oldest healing massage in the world – was first developed by an Ayurvedic doctor from India. Unquestionably, Dr. Shivago Komarpaj would have employed Pranic Healing techniques.

According to the Yogic idea of healing, the body ever seeks to heal itself. More often than not, our lifestyle choices impede the bodies innate desire for wellness, creating Pranic/energy disruptions, which manifests as sickness and disease.

Similar to Reiki and other energy modalities, Pranic Healing is no substitute for medical treatment, but an energy technique used to locate, identify and adjust energy imbalances in the body. So what I do in Yoga class, for example, is a compliment to, or part of Hatha Yoga. Specifically to the healing condition being created in any given Yoga pose. (If ever I suspected a serious condition I would speak to the student privately, mentioning the intuitive impression I received from their bodies Pranic Energy Field.)

The beauty of Pranic Healing is in its simplicity - that it can be done by anyone. When we eat pure food and drink clean water, when we do Hatha Yoga and meditate daily, we work with the bodies Prana to maintain overall health and wellbeing.

Hamsa Yogashala will be introducing a Pranic Healing workshop in the coming weeks. It is a two-day basic course in Prana and Pranic Healing that includes practical demonstrations and self-healing techniques. After all, healing is a very personal practice, one that we should take into our own hands.

Om Peace!
Yogini Valarie Devi