This is a question that many people ask when they first encounter yogic philosophy. The answer reveals something profound about the nature of life itself.
Breath as the Vehicle of Prāna
When inhaling, both air and prāna enter the body. Breath functions as the "vehicle" of prāna, similar to how a bucket brings out water from a well—the breath brings the prana into the system.
"Like a windmill turns the air into electricity, similarly the air that we inhale takes Prāna inside."
What is Prāna?
Prāna represents the vital life force—the energetic current animating living beings. It encompasses far more than mere respiration, influencing physiological and mental processes throughout the body.
Prāna is not just "breath" in the ordinary sense, but the energy carried by breath, thoughts, food, emotions, and consciousness itself.
Connection to the Five Elements (Panchabhutas)
Prāna operates through five fundamental elements:
- Akasha (Space) — provides the container for all existence
- Vayu (Air) — enables movement and circulation
- Agni (Fire) — powers transformation and digestion
- Apas (Water) — facilitates flow and cohesion
- Prithvi (Earth) — provides stability and structure
Key Understanding
Each element provides a channel for prāna's functioning. The body, composed of these five elements, serves as an instrument through which prāna flows and operates, with breath serving as prāna's physical manifestation within the respiratory system.
So while breath and prāna are intimately connected, prāna is the deeper reality—the life force that animates not just our breathing, but every aspect of our being.