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In yoga philosophy actual death occurs when the five vital energies, or pancha vayus, completely exit the body. This happens over a period of time. This is why we encourage doing nothing immediately after a person has been pronounced dead by a medical team.  Taking some time to honor the dying person after the pronouncement allows these energies to withdraw in a contemplative and peaceful way.  Many cultures use the time to bathe and shroud the body.  Others simply sit with the body and share stories or favorite music.  As a yogi doula, you can help educate your clients’ families (and health care workers!) about the importance of not rushing this sacred and awe-inspiring time.

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Let’s take a look at the five vital energies and a rough timeline of when they exit the body during the dying process.

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Samana Vayu (Samat Prana)
Samana Vayu helps support the digestive system.  It moves in an inward and outward, horizontal direction and is usually the first to exit the body.  After the last breath, digestion ceases, causing the body to start cooling down. Within twenty-one to twenty-four minutes from the final exhale, Samana Vayu exits the body completely.

 

Prana Vayu

Translated as “vital energy”, Prana vayu is the upward moving current of energy and supports the cardio-respiratory system.  It is usually the second vayu to exit the body, roughly forty-eight to ninety minutes after the final exhale.  In yoga philosophy, we believe that thoughts still occur after the last breath as the prana vayu exits the body.

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Udana Vayu
“Udana” is translated as “upward” and Udana Vayu is the uppermost current of energy, thus creating buoyancy. Udana Vayu supports the senses, the endocrine and central nervous systems and exits between six and twelve hours after the final breath.  We may notice the body has become denser and heavier after its exit. In yoga philosophy, we believe that senses such as hearing can still function even after the last breath as the udana vayu exits the body.

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Apana Vayu

“Apana” is translated as “air moving downward” and Apana Vayu is the downward moving current of energy.  Apana Vayu supports the elimination, urinary, and reproductive systems.  It is seen as a downward, purifying current and exits the body somewhere between eight to eighteen hours after the final exhale.  In yoga philosophy, we believe that sensations still occur after the last breath as the apana vayu exits the body.

 

Vyana Vayu

“Vyana” is translated as “pervading” and Vyana Vayu is the current of vital energy that circulates in the entire body and then expands from the center of the body to the peripheral - all the way out to the extremities.  Vyana Vayu is that which knits all the billions of cells into one organism and can preserve the body for a long time. Therefore, Vyana Vayu, which is the preservative nature of prana, is the last to exit, up to eleven to fourteen days after the final exhale.  Some forms of yoga philosophy believe that if one has mastery over one’s vyana vayu, one can leave one’s body at will.