Abstract

Since India’s philosophical discussion on the correlation between the mind and the body, the goal achieved through practice has been imbued with much meaning under the influences of yoga. Self-transcendence can be reached through self-discipline that is founded upon the fundamental change and potential for existential practice. The mind and the body do not comprise a binary relationship but instead maintain an intimate relationship bound by the medium of organic energy of breathing, breath, and prāṇa. Of these medium that form the relationship, the prāṇa has a natural healing tendency, which has been well documented within classics such as Upaniṣads and Bhagavad Gītā. Classic yoga explains that prāṇa imbues within it a vivacious passion and energy that will connect the human body with the human mind. Thus, the prāṇa functions as bio-energy. From ancient Indian philosophy to Buddhism, yoga therapy actively utilizes practice as a main element. In particular, the Patañjali yoga’s methodology details the organic correlation within its eight limbs yoga practices. The prāṇa is breath. This is the only sense in which Patañjali has used this word. Breath is called prāṇa because it moves on continuously throughout the body and reaches the basic circle of the individual self. It pervades mouth, nostrils, heart, navel region and toes. As a result, it is a healing method that achieves far more than the scientific healing methods common in society.