Embracing the Energy of Japa Practice

When we engage in Japa practice, repeating mantras, we can often feel the energy moving through our bodies. Understanding the subtle energy structure of the human body helps us comprehend how our bodies process the energy generated during Japa practice.

In yogic and tantric traditions, the Sushumna Nadi is revered as the central energy channel of spiritual transformation. Flowing along the spine from the Muladhara (Root Chakra) to the Sahasrara (Crown Chakra), it serves as the main pathway for Kundalini energy—the latent spiritual force said to rise through the chakras and awaken higher consciousness. The Sushumna is flanked by two companion nadis, Ida and Pingala, which balance lunar and solar energies. When harmonized through practices like mantra japa, pranayama, meditation, and spinal-aligned asanas, the Sushumna becomes active, enabling a clear ascent of prana and leading toward samadhi, or spiritual liberation. Esoteric texts describe the Sushumna as composed of three subtle sheaths—Vajra, Chitra, and Brahma Nadi—each playing a role in deep inner awakening. Often called the Brahmanadi, it’s not just an energy current but a sacred thread connecting body, mind, and the infinite.

In the subtle body, each chakra acts as a reservoir of pranic energy, this is why we often feel movement or pressure in the base of the spine, the heart and the head when we are doing japa. Extending from each chakra, we find an intricate network of nadis—those tiny energetic pathways that weave through the physical and astral form. However, many of these nadis are constricted by samskaras, the impressions of past experiences, traumas, and karmic residues that linger like knots in the flow of consciousness. When one engages in Japa, the rhythmic repetition of mantra begins to vibrate through these blockages, like sound waves untangling tightly wound threads. The vibrational potency of the mantra not only activates the chakras, but also sends refined energy—known as shuddha prana—into the nadis, gently clearing obstructions and restoring the harmonious circulation of life-force. Over time, this purification awakens latent faculties of insight, clarity, and devotion, illuminating a path toward higher states of awareness where the individual can perceive reality with subtler wisdom and expanded presence.

When you are engaged in a dedicated Japa practice, it can be helpful to understand the sensations you are experiencing and also to understand how to help your system integrate the energy and feel grounded and at ease. After your Japa practice, you can take a walk or do some gentle yoga asanas. Also, pranayama is highly effective in helping to integrate the energy. Taking deep breaths or using alternate nostril breathing are excellent ways to feel energized and awake after your practice. I encourage you to give this a try. Once we understand how to process the energy that is generated in the practice, we can consider increasing the number of malas which are comfortable in a daily practice and still feel balanced and grounded.