Yoga 101: The profound effects of the Pawanmuktasana Series

In our gentle yoga or beginner level yoga classes, we often introduce the programme called the Pawanmuktasana series, which is a good foundation for the classical yoga poses. Often considered a programme for the elderly or physically not-so-fit people, it is much more subtle and powerful than meets the eye; even for the experienced yoga practitioner, its effects are highly beneficial because of the way it promotes the flow of prana, or vital energy, in the body.

Pawan means wind, mukta means to liberate or release, and asana is a yoga pose. Consisting of a series of simple movements, pawanmuktasana effectively frees our joints and muscles from stiffness and toxins, and helps to release wind from our intestines. The main idea behind these asanas is to provide suppleness in the joints. Joints will regain flexibility, and hard muscles start to soften with the practice. Beginners cannot ignore these asanas if they wish to avoid injuries while progressing in hatha yoga. 

In Western medicine, the joints are considered vulnerable areas of the body, where the flow of energy is easily impeded. Fluids and wind thus tend to accumulate and stagnate at the joints, resulting in rheumatic pains and deficient energy flow throughout the whole body. In the yogic system, pawan is also related to prana, as prana is defined as air. If we understand prana as the life-force or vital energy, then pawanmuktasana can be defined as the poses that liberate the life-force or vitality in us. Thus, from this viewpoint, the practice can have a very powerful healing effect. 

Prana is divided into five major components: prana, apana, samana, udana and vyana. These pranas relate to different movements. So prana is the forward or primary air and has an upward movement; apana is the downward moving air, samana is the horizontal or equalizing air; udana is the spiralling air; and vyana is the diffusive, pervasive air.

When pawanmuktasana is practised with full concentration and awareness, one can feel how all these pranic movements are stimulated, causing the energies to be circulated and redistributed. One of the pranas that is clearly influenced is vyana which governs circulation and nervous impulses to the periphery and also the movement of the joints.

Part II of the pawanmuktasana series (the digestive series) has a direct influence on apana. Its effect is very strong on the lower abdominal muscles, pelvic organs and large intestine. Blood irrigation is increased through the stimulation of the venous return from the legs, increasing also the process of elimination. Apana is said to be the power of disease inherent in the body, the force of devolution and limitation of consciousness. So by purifying apana, the body is protected from the forces of degeneration. 

The pranas are transmitted throughout the body by the nadis which are defined as channels or pathways of pranic current. These energy channels make a complex network of 'energy threads' that hold together the energy field of the human body. These channels or pathways are very important for the circulation of prana, and they become obstructed by inactivity or wrong activity, by wrong thoughts, wrong diet and wrong lifestyle in general. Through the practice of pawanmuktasana, a stimulating massage is given to these channels which releases this obstruction.

References:
http://www.yogamag.net/archives/1997/ajan97/pawanmuk.shtml
http://www.yogameditation.com/Articles/Issues-of-Bindu/Bindu-4/Yoga-and-the-finer-energy