1. The five forms of Vata are called:

1. Prana

2. Udana

3. Samana

4. Vyana

5. Apana

root `an' means to breath or to energize.

Prana:

1. Forward or primary air or nervous force.

2. Pervades the head and is centered in the brain.

3. Moves downward to the chest and throat. Its territory, or range of motion, is from head to throat to chest and back to head.

4. Governs inhalation and swallowing, as well as sneezing, spitting and belching.

5. Governs the senses, mind, heart and consciousness.

6. Our portion of the cosmic life energy,

directs all the other Vatas in the body.

7. Determines our inspiration or positive spirit in life,

connects us with our inner Self.

8. Disturbances of prana cause hiccoughing and disorders of the lungs and breath.

9. The term `Prana' is also used in a broader sense to indicate Vata in general, as all Vatas derive from it.

Udana:

1. Means upward moving air or nervous force.

2. Located in the chest and centered in the throat. Its territory or range of motion is from nose to throat to umbilicus (navel) and return.

3. Governs exhalation and speech.

4. Responsible for memory, strength, will and effort.

5. Determines our aspiration in life. Strength for holding objects (grip).

Ability to feel sensations with the tongue.

Luster to the skin.

6. When disturbed, udan triggers development of diseases of throat and head.

Sore throat, sinus disorders, head colds, headaches, earaches and many other diseases are caused by disturbance in the operation of udan.

7. At death it rises up from the body and directs us towards various subtle worlds according to the power of our will and the karma that move through it.

8. When fully developed it gives us the power to transcend the outer world

as well as various psychic powers.

9. The practice of Yoga is involved primarily with developing Udana.

Samana:

1. Means the equalizing air.

2. Centered in the small intestine and is the nervous force behind the digestive system.

3. It travels throughout the digestive tract from the stomach to the duodenum to the intestines, and also to the pancreas.

4. Regulates the appetite.

5. With the help of the stomach's digestive juices, samana cooks the food and then separates nutrients from waste matter.

6. When disturbed, samana produces a loss of stomach fire, gastritis, colic and other intestinal disorders.

7. Pushes the digested food (rasa) into the lymph channels for distribution to the body.

8. Commands apana vayu to carry fecal matter away to be eliminated.

Vyana:

1. Means the diffusive or pervasive air.

2. Centered in the heart and distributed throughout the entire body. It travels (crossing the navel) diagonally throughout the entire body according to the body's needs.

3. Governs the circulatory system and, through it,

the movement of the joints and muscles and the discharge of

impulses and secretions.

Allows consciousness to withdraw from the body to the heart area during sleep and return to the body upon awakening.

Regulates breathing and adjusts body functions during exercise to prevent exhaustion.

Opening and closing of eyelids.

Controls autonomic nervous system.

4. Disturbances in the flow of this gas result in disorders which affect the whole system.

Apana:

1. Downward moving air or the air that moves away.

2. Centered in the colon and governs all downward moving impulses of elimination, urination, menstruation, parturition and sex.

3. It travels to the anus, the bladder and urethra, and the rectum.

4. As Udana, the ascending air, carries our life-force upwards and brings about the evolution or liberation of consciousness, Apana, the descending air, carries it down and brings about the devolution or limitation of consciousness.

5. Apana supports and controls all the other forms of Vata,

derangements of it are the basis of most Vata disorders.

As a downward moving force, when aggravated it causes decay and disintegration.

6. When disturbed, apana, contributes to urinary and seminal disorders, hemorrhoids, constipation and a whole host of other disorders including pain and cramping of the abdomen.

7. Hence, the treatment of Apana is the first consideration in the treatment of Vata.