There is no equivalent word for Prana in English. It is usually translated as breath. But that is incorrect according to my teachers at KYM. The concept explained here is from KYM and is originally from a book called Yoga Yajnavalkya Samhita. Breath is related to Prana, but it is not the whole component. In Yoga philosophy, breath is converted to Prana that can flow, when the body and mind are conditioned in a certain way.
Prana is created in the center of the body (hrdya) and it ideally stays within the body. Prana does leak out of the body for various reasons.The idea of Prana in the body and that is leaking out is symbolic of the state of mind.
(This picture is from the book Heart of Yoga by TKV Desikachar)
For someone whose mind is constantly seeking things out, Prana will flow out of the body as a lot of energy is spent on these activities of the mind. Or it could be that the space that is needed for the Prana to stay in the body is not available and some Prana is forced to leave. This may be because the digestion is not very healthy and the waste that should not be there, is hanging around. Or any other rubbish that should not be present in the body. When someone is unwell, or feels stuck, restricted, depressed, the body is low on Prana as it has been displaced by these thoughts occupied in the mind. This is depicted in (1).
Practicing Pranayama helps us to keep more Prana within us, which means we have a healthy state of mind. Picture (2) is of a yogi who can keep all the Prana within. The way Pranayama works is subtler but powerful when compared to the asanas. Asanas help to improve our breathing and that in turn helps the mind. But, Pranayama is directly focusing on the breath and focusing the breath to clear the impurities in the body. Asanas and pranayama are both helpful.
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