Prana, tejas and ojas are the subtle energies of our beings. They are the refined expressions of the elemental doshas, or the unique combination of earth and water (kapha dosha), fire and water (pitta dosha), and air and ether (vata dosha) that exist in all things.
- Prana is the pure essence of vata dosha, especially the ether element.
- Tejas is the pure essence of pitta dosha, especially the fire element.
- Ojas is the pure essence of kapha dosha, especially the water element.
What makes the subtle nature of prana, tejas and ojas so special is that they are lighter and more expansive than any physical attribute. As such, they connect to your body, your mind and your heart space – what you think and how you feel.
They are the basis of Ayurvedic psychology.
- Feeling anxious or overwhelmed? Your prana may be too high.
- Feeling angry or judgmental? Your tejas may be too high.
- Feeling depleted or intolerant? Your ojas may be too low.
Holistic healing results when the physical doshas (vata, pitta and kapha) are balanced and when the subtle energies (prana, tejas and ojas) are in balance. This article introduces the concept of prana, tejas and ojas, outlines their importance in holistic healing, and provides balancing tools to help foster deep healing and holistic health.
The Basics
The physical combinations of vata, pitta and kapha that make up an individual’s innate constitution (prakruti) are fixed – they don’t change. The doshic imbalances (vikruti) of vata, pitta and kapha can, however, rise too high or become suppressed (they never decrease). The subtle energies – prana, tejas and ojas – can become both too high and too low, affecting the others.
Understanding this balance matters because prana, tejas and ojas only come into balance relative to each other. This means that whenever prana or tejas run too high, ojas will be low. This is true in the physical and subtle bodies. When we bring balance to all three, they exist in optimal states without an excess or deficiency of any one subtle energy.
What is Prana?
Prana correlates to vata dosha and is predominant in the ether element. Ether has the qualities of being clear, light, subtle, expansive and omnipresent.
In the physical body, prana is the vital life force that performs respiration, oxygenation, and circulation. It governs motor and sensory functions. Breath is a common factor between the animal kingdom and the plant kingdom. Oxygen, the food of prana, is necessary for life. Those with a physical body vata dosha (air and ether) imbalance often experience states of high prana.
In the subtle body, prana governs memories, thoughts and emotions, which are related to higher cerebral functions. Because prana moves emotions, there is a connection between the accumulation of prana and emotional fluctuation. High prana governs states of anxiety, overwhelm, anxiousness and worry. Low prana leads to a lack of creativity and closed-mindedness.
On a deeper, more subtle level, prana governs the development of higher states of consciousness. Connecting the physical and subtle aspects of prana results in the cleansing, opening and clearing of the channels that carry prana, thereby healing symptoms.
Prana Nourishing Practices:
- Pranayama, or breath work, is the movement or regulation of prana through the breath. It is also a detoxification mechanism that allows negative impressions or beliefs to be released. Alternate Nostril Breath balances to the lunar and solar channels of prana.
- Prana Balancing Meditation
- Neti and nasya – clean and nourish the nasal cavity where prana enters and leaves the body.
- Nasal oiling – coat the inner lining of your nose with ghee in the morning to help nourish the nasal passages and absorb the prana (air) you are breathing.
- Adopt a plant – air-purifying houseplants can detoxify your home from airborne toxins, dust and germs that can be found in a variety of household products, materials and furniture. Varieties include Hedera helix (English Ivy) , Dracaena trifasciata (Snake Plant) and Chrysanthemum.
- Aromatherapy – Burn incense or essential oils with aromas that balance your constitution and prana.
What is Tejas?
Tejas correlates to pitta dosha and is predominant in the fire element. It is light, heat and the flame of pure intelligence. Tejas is the primary energy involved with digestion and transformation of everything we experience through our five senses. This includes foods, liquids, thoughts, actions and emotions.
In the physical body, tejas is the pure essence of the digestive fire. It manifests as enzymes, hormones and amino acids, all of which govern cellular metabolism. Tejas influences the body’s color and complexion, nutrition, muscle tone, intelligence, strength, positive health and natural immunity. Tejas can burn toxins and prioritize healing in the body. Pushing through illnesses and fatigue ignores the intelligence of tejas and can lead to excess inflammation. Those with a physical body pitta dosha (fire and water) imbalance often experience states of excess tejas.
In the subtle body, tejas maintains the functions of the mind and the cellular intelligence of the body. It is the inner radiance or the subtle energy of fire through which we digest impressions and thoughts. When tejas runs too high, it can leave us feeling exhausted, burnt out, angry or judgmental. When tejas runs too low, we lack clarity and purpose.
On a deeper, more subtle level, tejas governs the development of higher perceptual capacities. Balancing tejas helps to enhance perception, reduce anger and judgment, flush toxins from the brain and reset hormonal balance.
Tejas Nourishing Practices:
- Vegetables and fruits grown in the sun are high in tejas.
- Cooked vs. raw foods – cooking helps to break down the food so it is absorbed and assimilated more easily.
- Trataka – candle gazing meditation helps to build tejas, or the power of discernment, in the mind.
- Pratyahara – or the withdrawal of the senses – helps to detoxify the mind by allowing undigested and toxic impressions to be released.
- Watch the sunrise – to stimulate the pineal gland, set circadian rhythms and activate serotonin release.
What is Ojas?
We often refer to ojas as “strength, vitality and immunity”. Indeed, ojas is sustenance, or a superfine biological substance that determines the biological strength of the tissues. It correlates to kapha dosha, especially the pure refined water element.
In the physical body, ojas is the final byproduct of excellent digestion. The metabolic fire transforms the elements of kapha dosha into ojas. In essence, ojas is formed during the biosynthesis of healthy bodily tissue. The heart circulates ojas throughout the body to maintain the natural resilience of bodily tissues.
Ojas is a biological substance that includes albumin (an essential protein in nutrient absorption and water metabolism), globulins (essential proteins that affect the liver, blood and immunity) and many hormones (which regulate homeostasis and how well you function everyday).
Physical disease can result from subtle body imbalances such as repressed emotions, chronic stress and excess anxiety, overwhelm and depression. The quality of ojas greatly depends as much upon nutrition as it does lifestyle, stress, traumas and quality relationships.
The strength of a person’s ojas will determine whether internal or external factors will create disease or long-term imbalance. If ojas is weak, a person can develop a chronic illness or injury. Building ojas in the physical and subtle bodies is paramount to healing, no matter the disease, injury or illness.
While prana helps one to develop higher states of consciousness and tejas helps develop higher perceptual capacity, ojas helps to nourish and maintain both.
Signs of Balanced Ojas
- Glowing complexion
- Physical strength
- Stable energy throughout the day
- Healthy immunity
- Happiness, joy and contentment
- Restorative sleep
Signs of Low Ojas
- Dry skin
- Poor circulation
- Weak sense organs (sensitivity to light and sound)
- Muscle or joint pain
- Impaired bodily functions
- Low energy, lethargy, melancholy
- Brain fog
- Anxiety and/or depression
- Insomnia
Somewhat paradoxically, ojas can run in excess, usually in those with a physical body kapha dosha imbalance. This often manifests as complacency. But, in general, building ojas is the best healing energy available.
Ojas Balancing Practices:
- Nutrition – dates, almonds, ghee, organic raw milk, organic grains, avocados, root vegetables and winter squash. Enjoy our Ojas Balls recipe or our Ojas-Building Nutritive Milk Tonic for a natural remedy to boost strength, vitality and immunity!
- Yoga Nidra – Healing Energy – a form of Yoga Nidra that is specifically focused on healing your biofield, or the energetic mapping of your entire bodily system and its interrelatedness with your overall health and well-being. This particular method guides healing and relaxation over the energetic marma points, where the muscles, ligaments, tendons, joints, veins, and arteries overlap in the body. When given healing energy, marma points can strengthen your entire system.
- Abhyanga, or self oil massage.
- Journaling exercise: “What relationships in my life nourish me most?” Quality relationships are one of the best tonics for supporting ojas. How much time are you dedicating to relationships that deplete your ojas?
Simply becoming more aware of subtle energy enables you to notice changes and differences in body, mind and spirit at any given moment. Awareness increases your ability to listen to the wisdom of your body and provide it with what it is asking for. It allows you to build healthy ojas.
Working with a qualified practitioner is the best approach to healing the subtle body as it provides customized support for your unique constitution and conditions. It also helps to get you there faster.
For more information, visit our articles on Subtle Body Self-Healing, the Koshas, and Ayurveda, Anxiety & Depression.
Article authored by Chloe Chaput, who is dedicated to her role as a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist (CAS) to work with women’s health, male and female fertility challenges, parents/caregivers, and children to address a variety of clinical health concerns at the root of their cause. Contact Path Wellbeing today to set up your appointment with Chloe Chaput, CAS.
Edited by Kirsten Ahern, CAS and Founder of Path Wellbeing.
The information contained within this article is for educational purposes only and should not replace the direct advice of a doctor or other qualified healthcare professional. Always consult a medical or other professional healthcare provider when considering a new health regime.
