Prana - The secret to emotional regulation in ADHD

Unlock the doorway to deep peace, greater focus and concentration and spiritual insights

You may have heard Yogis talk about prana being present in the breath or food, but what is it? And what does it have to do with ADHD?

Prana is the life force in every living thing. No prana, no life. Food with no prana is called compost. Food zinging with prana sings to you from the baskets on market day. It’s in the smell of freshly picked produce, the pertness of the peach and the nectar of the berries. It’s in the mountain air and clean running water.

It’s a subtle energy that exists in the air and every breath we take. Prana is the vibrant life force that courses through each living being, awakening profound interconnectedness and Divine Intelligence. It exists in every living cell in your body, coming in and going out through your senses and anything you give your attention to.

Prana infuses us with energy at the deepest level, leaving us feeling calm and content. By consciously and deeply inhaling and exhaling, we circulate prana, the vital life force, throughout our body. The rhythmic flow nourishes every cell, permeating them with wisdom and guiding us to make sound choices.

Prana enables us to slow down & pause before reacting, creating space to make wiser choices.

Prana aligns us with nature, creating a harmonious balance and a desire to seek more of the same.

Conversely, when vata is high, we become scattered and depleted, always searching for something to fill the void. It drains our vitality and intelligence and has us making poor choices. Each poor choice depletes prana, which leads to more poor choices. Like increases like.

To understand prana, look at how it shows up in your body.

Prana connects energy with matter and maintains harmony between mind and body.

Prana is present in all chemical reactions of circulation, respiration, and cellular respiration.

Prana is necessary for the movement of everything within the digestive system.

Prana governs the nervous system, the neurotransmitters, and the hormones.

Prana is the movement that creates voice and sound.

Prana controls hunger and thirst.

Prana pushes things out of the body, like waste products, foreign bodies, and babies!

Prana is the Intelligence of Nature. When you embody that intelligence, you get smarter. Your decisions get smarter, and so do your cravings and desires.

When prana is low, we lack energy and enthusiasm for life, and vata gets vitiated.

Here are some things that will rob you of your vital life force:

Burning the candle at both ends, overdoing it regularly.

Poor nutrition.

Poor digestion.

Poor sleeping habits.

Toxins, drugs, and alcohol.

Sudden shock or prolonged stress.

Chronic rushing around.

Excessive sexual activity.

Negative thinking, anxiety, and depression.

Being in a situation that makes us unhappy.

Anything that ‘grabs or steals’ attention not only depletes energy but also exacerbates vata.

depleted prana = emotional dysregulation

The pranamaya kosha, or your energy body, is your personal prana stash. It’s nourished and strengthened by the breath through activities such as yoga, pranayama (breathing exercises), mindfulness, time in nature, and meditation.

Prana is most available to us just before dawn. This time of day is called ‘brahma muhurta’ or the time of the gods. It’s an auspicious time for contemplative practices in many traditions.

“The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you. Don't go back to sleep.” Rumi

Your prana levels are determined by what you consume with all your senses. You are more than just what you eat. My emotions and choices are much more likely to go haywire when I don’t make time for Yoga, pranayama and meditation, especially if I don’t eat well. That’s the downward spiral.

Attending regularly to the practices of Ayurveda and Yoga has me spiralling upwards and behaving with more emotional maturity. Choose what you consume wisely to steady your emotions and rock an undeniably positive vibe. Just like the veggies in the market!