We don’t necessarily need to know all the subtle qualities of each dosha in order to stay in balance.  However, having this knowledge can help us when we need to address specific conditions.  It also helps us to understand more about how nature works, and how it expresses through our doshas.  Each dosha has subtle aspects that express in unique ways to perform various functions.  These are the subtle qualities of Vata:

 

-Prana.  Prana is seated in the brain.  It is the primary aspect of Vata from which the other four are derived.  The word prana loosely translated from Sanskrit means to “breathe forth.”  Prana governs swallowing and inhalation, and regulates the senses, mental process, heart and consciousness.

-Upward Moving.  Udana is seated in the throat and is active in the chest.  It governs speech and exhalation.  It helps us to expand our consciousness and to relax.

-Equalizing.  Samana is seated in the small intestine.  It governs digestion, assimilation, and biochemical processes.

-Pervasive.  Vyana is seated in the heart region.  It governs circulation and movement.

-Downward moving.  Apana is seated in the colon.  It governs elimination, mentruation, childbirth, and expulsion of reproductive fluids.