Prana

What is prana?

Is it just breath? A metaphor for spirit? A biological energy? Or something more?

In Prana: One Breath, Many Worlds, Bernie Clark – author of the bestselling The Complete Guide to Yin Yoga – invites readers on a journey through ancient myths, spiritual practices, and cutting-edge science in search of one of yoga’s most mysterious and foundational ideas: prana. Blending historical scholarship with personal experience, Clark weaves a tapestry of stories that explore prana as fire, wind, water, and breath – moving from shamanic roots to temple rituals, from the Upanishads to Theosophy, from early Greek philosophy to modern yoga retreats.

Combining rigorous research with captivating storytelling, the book offers:

• A deep dive into the spiritual and scientific roots of breath across cultures
  
  
• Personal vignettes and retreat experiences that ground the philosophy in lived practice
  
  
• Insightful comparisons of Eastern and Western views of soul, spirit, and vitality
  
  
• A mythological exploration of symbols like serpents, trees, water, and the stars
  
  

Part memoir, part history, part philosophical reflection, Prana offers an illuminating exploration of the life force that animates us all. Whether you are a yoga teacher, student, philosopher, or simply a seeker of deeper truths, this book will expand your understanding – and your breath.

About the Author

Bernie Clark has been a dedicated student of science, mythology, and the contemplative traditions for over four decades. Best known for his pioneering work in yin yoga and his widely respected books on anatomy and practice, Bernie brings a unique blend of intellectual rigour, deep inquiry, and storytelling to all his writings.

Before turning to teaching full-time, Bernie had a successful career in science and technology, where his fascination with systems and structure laid the foundation for his later explorations of the body, breath, and mind. His teaching is informed not only by years of practice and study in yoga, meditation, and philosophy, but also by a lifelong curiosity about the human experience.

In Prana, Bernie turns his attention to one of yoga’s most elusive and profound concepts – breath as life force – tracing its meaning across cultures, eras, and disciplines. Blending personal story with philosophical reflection, ancient wisdom, and modern science, he invites readers into a multidimensional investigation of what it means to be alive.