The 5 Vāyus
The Five 'Winds'
The five vāyus or 'winds' are the five sub-humours of the air humour, Vāta. Each governs and controls the life force as well as different bodily functions and mental states at different stages of our interaction with the life force. These show how the life force is moving through us in a more detailed manner. This will happen regardless of whether there is awareness of this movement, but when you add this awareness, it can help direct the life force where it is needed to create more healing and balance to certain parts of the body.
The Energizing Wind
This wind is primarily located in the head and chest. Breathing exercises as well as meditation increase it. This is the energizing wind that governs what we take in through our food, thoughts, impressions and, of course, our breath. Exercises that are inward and forward moving increase it and exercises that are outward will decrease it – as will any type of over-exertion. It is important to note that this wind is active in all the other winds as well, just like air is the governing humour through which fire and water function. This energizing wind presides in the head, so Jupiter can be seen to influence this wind by organizing all of the other winds in space. Exercising the right amount and in a natural environment will naturally increase the life force as you take in fresh air, good impressions and eat healthy, nutritious food for your constitutional type.
The Upward-Moving Wind
This upward-moving wind is primarily found in the neck. Singing will increase it and is a greater use of this wind than mere speech alone, which will decrease the life force – just as talking too much will deplete your energy. This is an ascending wind that governs our output of energy and the exhalation, speech and will. The planet Saturn relates to this wind and shows the crucial role of our energy output in determining good health. This wind governs expression and the positive energy from our intake of nutritive substances. Exercises that are upward-moving will increase it and ones that are downward will decrease it. Just as it is important to look at how much energy we are taking into the body, it is also important to be aware of the energy we expel. Normally, we expel far too much energy in needless speech, which is best conserved for our exercise routine. You will be aware of this if you continue to talk while exercising. This interrupts the input and output of the breath and, thus, the life force itself, leaving you feeling out of breath.
The Circulating Wind
This wind is found throughout the body. Extending exercises, where the energy is sent out to the periphery, will increase it. This is an expanding wind and governs the outward movement of food, breath, impressions and thoughts. It governs circulation of the physical and mental body. Exercises that are expanding and extending will increase it while exercises that are contracting and centering will decrease it. This wind presides at the sacral region, representing the fluidity in the hips that can become rigid if not kept flexible. Venus and the Moon relate to this wind as the rulers of the water element and our ability to move with fluidity, not just in our bodily movements, but in our lives.
The Equalizing Wind
This wind is found in the navel. Seated exercises will increase it as this is the contracting and centring wind. Its function includes digestions on all levels and maintains our equilibrium. Exercises that increase it are those that contract and centre us, such as sitting postures while exercising. An example of this would be sit-ups. Exercises that decrease it are those that expand the body, such as dance. This wind presides at the solar plexus, giving us the power of digestion and assimilation. This wind can be related to the Sun and the planet Mars, which represent the fire element at the solar plexus.
The Downward-Moving Wind
This wind is found in the lower abdomen. This descending and stabilizing wind is responsible for elimination on all levels, as it takes our energy down and grounds us. Exercises that are grounding, such as seated exercises, or strong standing exercises, such as squats, will increase it. The ability to perform a squatting motion will indicate how well this wind operates and, therefore, how well your organs of elimination function. Exercises that are upward-moving will decrease it. This wind presides at the base of the spine; the downward-moving wind relates to our ability to root into the earth while we exercise. Therefore, any strong leg work will give us an awareness of this. The planet Mercury relates to this wind and our ability to root ourselves in the body along with our practical concerns related to the body.
The five vāyus or 'winds' are the five sub-humours of the air humour, Vāta. Each governs and controls the life force as well as different bodily functions and mental states at different stages of our interaction with the life force. These show how the life force is moving through us in a more detailed manner. This will happen regardless of whether there is awareness of this movement, but when you add this awareness, it can help direct the life force where it is needed to create more healing and balance to certain parts of the body.
The Energizing Wind
This wind is primarily located in the head and chest. Breathing exercises as well as meditation increase it. This is the energizing wind that governs what we take in through our food, thoughts, impressions and, of course, our breath. Exercises that are inward and forward moving increase it and exercises that are outward will decrease it – as will any type of over-exertion. It is important to note that this wind is active in all the other winds as well, just like air is the governing humour through which fire and water function. This energizing wind presides in the head, so Jupiter can be seen to influence this wind by organizing all of the other winds in space. Exercising the right amount and in a natural environment will naturally increase the life force as you take in fresh air, good impressions and eat healthy, nutritious food for your constitutional type.
The Upward-Moving Wind
This upward-moving wind is primarily found in the neck. Singing will increase it and is a greater use of this wind than mere speech alone, which will decrease the life force – just as talking too much will deplete your energy. This is an ascending wind that governs our output of energy and the exhalation, speech and will. The planet Saturn relates to this wind and shows the crucial role of our energy output in determining good health. This wind governs expression and the positive energy from our intake of nutritive substances. Exercises that are upward-moving will increase it and ones that are downward will decrease it. Just as it is important to look at how much energy we are taking into the body, it is also important to be aware of the energy we expel. Normally, we expel far too much energy in needless speech, which is best conserved for our exercise routine. You will be aware of this if you continue to talk while exercising. This interrupts the input and output of the breath and, thus, the life force itself, leaving you feeling out of breath.
The Circulating Wind
This wind is found throughout the body. Extending exercises, where the energy is sent out to the periphery, will increase it. This is an expanding wind and governs the outward movement of food, breath, impressions and thoughts. It governs circulation of the physical and mental body. Exercises that are expanding and extending will increase it while exercises that are contracting and centering will decrease it. This wind presides at the sacral region, representing the fluidity in the hips that can become rigid if not kept flexible. Venus and the Moon relate to this wind as the rulers of the water element and our ability to move with fluidity, not just in our bodily movements, but in our lives.
The Equalizing Wind
This wind is found in the navel. Seated exercises will increase it as this is the contracting and centring wind. Its function includes digestions on all levels and maintains our equilibrium. Exercises that increase it are those that contract and centre us, such as sitting postures while exercising. An example of this would be sit-ups. Exercises that decrease it are those that expand the body, such as dance. This wind presides at the solar plexus, giving us the power of digestion and assimilation. This wind can be related to the Sun and the planet Mars, which represent the fire element at the solar plexus.
The Downward-Moving Wind
This wind is found in the lower abdomen. This descending and stabilizing wind is responsible for elimination on all levels, as it takes our energy down and grounds us. Exercises that are grounding, such as seated exercises, or strong standing exercises, such as squats, will increase it. The ability to perform a squatting motion will indicate how well this wind operates and, therefore, how well your organs of elimination function. Exercises that are upward-moving will decrease it. This wind presides at the base of the spine; the downward-moving wind relates to our ability to root into the earth while we exercise. Therefore, any strong leg work will give us an awareness of this. The planet Mercury relates to this wind and our ability to root ourselves in the body along with our practical concerns related to the body.
