An Introduction to Energetic Anatomy - The Subtle Body, Prana and the Nadi Network

sarahlokeryoga
Jul 17, 2023
5 min read

Written by Sarah Loker

Ancient yogic views of medicine, health and wellbeing explore an aspect of our anatomy, as vital and integral to us as our organs, arteries and cells that make up our physical body. This mysterious part of us cannot be viewed, touched, or measured quantifiably. Known as our Subtle, or Energetic Anatomy, this is the refined, spiritual part of our being. It has an incredibly important role, responsible for conveying the vital life energy, or prana, through us all.

Within the energetic anatomy reside energy lines and centres, such as nadis, meridians and chakras. These are channels through which the vital life force travels around the subtle body, and areas where prana is controlled and directed. In yoga and other ancient healing traditions, the subtle anatomy has a profound affect on the physical anatomy; illnesses and complications within the physical body are a result of blockages or stagnancy in the channels of the subtle anatomy. Healing practitioners tap into these energy lines and centres to access the subtle body, allowing the life force to flow freely and uninhibited - this leads to vitality, balance and optimal health and wellbeing.

Moving beyond the physical

In modern society, the popularised concept of selfhood has become completely underpinned by the physicality of the body - we view ourselves as beginning and ending solely with the physical, dense and gross; think about how celebrity status is nearly always granted purely on physicality and materiality, rather than moral or spiritual merit. According to ancient yogic thinking, this view keeps us trapped in a confused state of alienated being, with a sense of self that is identified with our mind and material existence only. Yoga is deeply rooted in moving beyond this illusion and misidentification of the self in these basic terms, reaching the real, higher Self, known as atman.

The ancient yogis discovered they could retrace steps of the human self back through the layers of reality, from the most gross, physical plane, to the most refined planes of pure consciousness. This journey to reclaim the true Self was broken down into three parts, known as the three bodies, or shariras; the physical body, the subtle body, and the causal body. These three bodies can be likened to the body (physical), mind (subtle), and spirit (causal), with yoga helping to unite and connect these, by bringing the body, breath, mind, wisdom, and spirit into harmony. This is more commonly referred to as the "mind-body-spirit connection."

Universal Life Force and the Subtle Body

An integral component to energetic anatomy is the vital life force that runs through all living things - in yoga, this is known as prana. Prana is a mysterious energy, the immeasurable source of life itself. It is the energy permeating the universe at all levels; it is vigor, power, vitality, life, and spirit. It is the breath of life of all beings in the universe. Although prana is associated with the breath, it is more than simply air and the process of breathing. In ancient yogic thinking, the breath is seen as a gateway to the vital energetic currents generated in the human body, which control all bodily responses.

Pranayama, or the restriction of the breath in yoga and meditation, is the bridge that connects the physical, subtle and causal bodies, allowing for the complete connection of body, mind, and spirit. This connection brings about a knowledge of our true divine Self, laying beyond the purely physical realm. As Nischala Joy Devi states, "the practice of pranayama slowly allows the veils covering our true self to lift. We are able to ascend unencumbered toward the light and merge with our Divine nature."

Nadis - Channels for Prana to Flow

Within the subtle body exists a network of energy lines, transporting prana throughout our being. In yoga, one of the main conceptualisations of these channels or energetic centres are nadis.

The life-force energy of prana flows throughout the energetic body through a network called nadis - meaning "channel" or "vein," the word comes from the Sanskrit root nad, to "flow" or "motion." Although they cannot be physically detected, ancient texts state that there are approximately 72,000 nadis within us, and can be likened metaphorically to our arteries and veins, transporting blood and oxygen around our physical system; nadis similarly transport vital life energy through the energetic system, nourishing our being for balance and health. Of the 72,000 nadis, three are given special significance - the sushumna, the ida and the pingala.

The sushumna is the central energetic channel of the subtle body. It runs from the perineum at the base of the spine (known in Ancient yogic thinking as the kanda, or "bulb" where all nadis are rooted) and moving up to the crown of the head through the centre of the spinal column. This nadi is responsible for assimilating and transporting prana from the base of the spine to the brow, or third eye, bestowing the universal life force up through our nervous system to the brain in the crown.

The pingala nadi runs alongside and crisscrosses the sushumna nadi, beginning on the right side of the Sushumna at the base of the spine and terminating in the right nostril. This nadi represents masculine energy, controlling the left side of the brain, the part of us that is assertive, logical, analytical, active and extrovert. This nadi is symbolised by the sun, the masculine cosmic energy - it is often called the Surya or sun nadi, and is linked to hot or warm temperatures. In Sanskrit, this male aspect of ourselves is referred to as ha, which encapsulates the characteristics of the pingala nadi. This "sun channel" conveys strong energy throughout our being.

The ida nadi also crisscrosses the sushumna alongside the pingala nadi, like two serpents coiling around the central column. The ida is passive and introvert, representing the feminine within us all. This is symbolised by the moon, and is often referred to as the Chandra or moon nadi. The feminine is associated with cool temperatures. Spiraling up the spine starting on the left side of the sushumna and ending in the left nostril, this nadi controls the right side of our brains; the creative, intuitive, nurturing, tender, and feeling part of us. This feminine force is known as tha in traditional yoga. The ida nadi calms the mind and nourishes our softer aspects.

The ida and pingala nadis are symbolic of the duality within us all and flowing through the universe, representing the two opposing forces within us. When we take the masculine ha and feminine tha, we see a direct reference to hatha, a particular branch of yoga. Roughly translated, Hatha means sun and moon, male and female. Yoga means union, bringing together the male and female, or opposing forces within us, to encourage harmony and balance on all levels of consciousness.

When the nadis are blocked, prana cannot flow freely through the subtle body, leading to imbalances in our physical and mental realms. Opening all the nadis, cultivating the balanced flow of energy through a connection with the masculine and feminine dualism inherent in us all, and bringing awareness to the flow of pranic energy as it travels through the sushumna nadi leads to "blissful ecstacy." Yogic practices of asana (physical postures), pranayama (breathwork) and meditation are tools to unblock the energetic system, leading to a state of balance, harmony, and health.