If you imagine, once again, that your body is a factory, samana would be the department in charge of processing the raw materials ordered in by the boss: prana (see pages 40–41). Samana extracts all the substances you can use – oxygen from the air you inhale, nutrients from your food, and ideas from the words and sounds you are exposed to – and passes them on to the relevant processing place, ready to be absorbed into your bloodstream or your thought processes. Samana then permits apana, your cleansing breath, to release what you no longer need (see pages 106–7). Within your body, the strongest influence of this nourishing breath is around your solar plexus, which extends from the bottom of your ribcage down to your navel.
Samana is the energy of moderation, and you can best support it by following a path of moderation in your daily life – by eating a balanced diet, taking some exercise every day, getting enough sleep and trying to keep your emotions on an even keel – as well as by practising specific breathing exercises. Because samana is a heating energy, when it falls out of balance it can overheat your system physically or emotionally. The breathing exercises on the following pages demonstrate effective ways to diffuse this excess heat. For example, if you notice your emotions heating up, take a few deep breaths, then try the Cooling Breath or Hissing Breath on page 77. If you often become emotionally overheated, you can cool your samana energy by replacing caffeinated drinks with chamomile tea, and by avoiding spicy food, onions and garlic.
If, conversely, your samana energy is sapped or dampened down – signs may include digestive symptoms or finding yourself withdrawing from arguments and avoiding issues – this chapter is also for you. Exercises such as Sun Breathing (see page 71), Bellows Breath (see page 75) and Fire Purification (see page 73) will help to revive the inner fire you lack, re-engage your mind with the world, and encourage you to deal with issues rather than withdraw from them. You may feel more “fired up” with samana energy if you also refrain from iced drinks and wait at least 30 minutes after a meal before drinking anything at all. Try not to overeat or take your main meal late in the evening, and avoid heavy, oily or very cold foods, too.
As you use the breathing exercises in this chapter, ask yourself these questions. They can help you to see how you are over-heating or depleting your samana and find ways in which you could rebalance it.
• Do I have digestive problems?
• Am I often angry? If so, do I express my anger in a healthy way?
• Do I often bury negative experiences and thoughts? How might I start to confront and deal with them instead?
• Do I continually mull over everything that happens to me? How can I stop myself from getting lost in daydreams?
• Am I inclined to say that things are OK when I know that they aren’t, to avoid a “scene”?
• Do I tend to repeat what I hear verbatim. Or do I think things through and then decide for myself?
• Am I a hoarder? Or do I let go of possessions I no longer love or need?
• Do I manage my money wisely?
• How important is it for me to be surrounded by beautiful things? Can I make more time to nurture myself in this way?
When your samana energy is strong yet well balanced, you will feel better nourished with oxygen and nutrients. The fire in your belly will help you to assimilate negative experiences and remain detached from energy-draining situations, and your more focused concentration will equip you with the equilibrium to be able to make discerning decisions about what you want from life.