What are nadis

Nadis are channels in the energy body through which prana, also called chi or vital energy, circulates. They form a network that crosses the subtle body and allows energy received by the chakras to reach the different regions that need to be supplied.

In this article, you will understand what the word nadi means, where these channels are located, what they do and how they relate to the chakras.

Continue reading to follow how prana circulates through this network and what makes Sushumna a central channel.

What does the word nadi mean?

The word nadi comes from Sanskrit and can be translated as flow, current or channel. Its meaning itself shows that we are not speaking of a motionless structure, but of a pathway through which energy moves. To understand nadis within the complete system of energy centers, also read the pillar article complete guide to the 7 chakras for beginners, where I explain chakras, vital energy, imbalances and paths toward harmonization.

A nadi does not produce energy and does not function as a reservoir. Its function is to allow prana to leave one point, follow a particular direction and reach other parts of the subtle body.

Therefore, the best way to understand a nadi is to think of a circulation route. Vital energy enters the system, is directed by the chakras and travels through these channels to reach the place where it will be used.

Where are the nadis located?

Nadis exist in the energy body, mainly in the etheric body. They are not inside muscles, nerves or blood vessels, although they may follow corresponding regions of the physical body.

Because the etheric body remains superimposed on the organism, we use anatomical references to explain the course of some channels. We say, for example, that Sushumna follows the spine, but this does not mean it is the spinal cord itself or a structure inside the vertebrae.

Nadis also extend into smaller regions of the energy body. They reach organs, joints, extremities and secondary chakras, forming a network much broader than the one represented in the best-known illustrations.

What do nadis do?

The main function of nadis is to transport vital energy. They allow prana received by the system to be distributed to the different parts of the energy body.

Without these channels, energy would remain concentrated at its points of entry and could not reach more distant regions. Nadis make the continuous renewal of flow possible and prevent each energy center from having to function in isolation.

The manual compares this function to the work of arteries and veins. Just as blood vessels carry blood through the organism, nadis carry prana and connect chakras, organs, tissues and different vibrational fields.

What is the relationship between nadis and chakras?

Chakras are centers that receive and organize particular frequencies. Nadis are the channels that receive this energy from the chakras and carry it through the rest of the system.

We can compare a chakra to a distribution station and nadis to the routes that leave that station. Energy may reach the center correctly, but it needs clear pathways to arrive at its destination.

This relationship explains why a chakra cannot be studied merely as an independent circle. Its functioning depends on the connections it maintains with the channels and the other parts of energetic anatomy.

How does prana circulate through the nadis?

Prana enters the energy body through different points and is received by the corresponding chakras. After being received, this energy is directed to the channels connected to the center.

Within the nadis, the flow follows different directions. Part of the energy circulates among the large chakras, while another part is carried to smaller centers and specific regions of the etheric body.

This circulation does not happen only once. The system receives, uses and renews energy constantly. Therefore, the proper functioning of nadis depends on continuity of movement, not merely on the amount of prana present in the field.

How many nadis exist in the energy body?

Indian traditions describe thousands of nadis spread throughout the subtle body. Some sources mention 72,000 channels, while others present even larger numbers.

These quantities should not be understood as an exact anatomical count. They show that the energetic network is extensive and has countless branches reaching every part of the being.

Most of these channels are small and serve specific regions. Among all of them, three received special attention because they participate in the central organization of the system: Sushumna, Ida and Pingala.

What is Sushumna?

Sushumna is the main central channel of the energy body. Its course follows the line of the spine in the subtle body, connecting the foundation of the system to the top of the head.

The seven main chakras are related to this axis. This makes Sushumna a pathway of integration because it allows energy to travel through the different levels represented by these centers.

In deeper Yoga practices, Sushumna is also described as the path of Kundalini's ascent. This movement should not be forced because it depends on preparing the system and balancing the other channels.

What is Ida?

Ida is the channel related to lunar energy. It represents a receptive, inward force connected to sensitivity, subjective perception and withdrawal.

Its path is associated with the left side of the energy body. In many representations, Ida rises from the base, crosses the central axis at different points and ends in the region of the head.

When its influence is appropriate, there is an ability to rest, perceive, receive and turn attention toward the inner world. When it predominates without balance, a person may find it difficult to turn perception and intention into concrete action.

What is Pingala?

Pingala is the channel related to solar energy. It represents an active, outward force connected to action, reasoning, movement and manifestation in the world.

Its path is associated with the right side of the energy body. Like Ida, it is represented as rising from the base and crossing the central axis before reaching the upper region.

Its activity provides the impulse to act, organize and accomplish. When it becomes predominant, however, it can produce excessive effort, agitation and difficulty stopping activity and restoring energy.

How do Ida and Pingala work together?

Ida and Pingala represent complementary movements. One carries energy toward inwardness and receptivity; the other sustains expression, movement and action.

This balance can be compared to breathing. Inhaling and exhaling are opposite movements, but both are necessary. In the same way, human beings need to know how to act and stop, express and listen, think rationally and perceive intuitively.

When both channels work harmoniously, Sushumna can sustain a more stable flow. The manual presents this balance as an important condition for the natural circulation of energy through the central channel.

Are nadis and meridians the same thing?

Nadis belong to the energy system developed by Indian traditions. Meridians are part of Traditional Chinese Medicine and are used to explain the circulation of chi through the organism.

Both concepts describe energy channels, but their maps are not completely identical. Each tradition organized their paths according to its own understanding of the body, health and energy practices.

Therefore, they can be compared, but it is not correct to state that each nadi corresponds exactly to a specific meridian. They address the same general principle of circulation through different systems of study.

What happens when the flow of a nadi is interrupted?

When the flow through a nadi decreases, energy has difficulty reaching a particular region. The problem does not necessarily mean the channel is completely closed, but that its circulation has lost strength or regularity.

This change may be caused by emotional tension, trauma, repetitive thoughts, lack of movement and habits that weaken the energy body. The area supplied by that channel begins receiving energy inadequately.

Over time, other pathways may try to compensate for the deficiency. This compensation keeps part of the system working, but it can produce overload and increase the difference between regions with too much and too little energy.

Why do some practices work with purification of the nadis?

Before increasing chakra activity, we need to ensure that energy has suitable pathways through which to circulate. Receiving more prana into a system with weakened channels can increase energetic concentration without improving its distribution.

Purification of the nadis aims to restore continuity of flow. Breathing, body movements and attention practices help reduce tension and reorganize the passage of energy.

This work should be gradual. The goal is not to force large amounts of energy through the body, but to improve the system's natural ability to receive, carry and renew prana.

Understanding nadis means understanding the pathways of energy

Nadis are the channels that form the subtle body's circulation network. They do not create prana or replace chakras, but allow received energy to be transported throughout the system.

Thousands of smaller channels reach organs, joints, extremities and secondary centers. Sushumna, Ida and Pingala organize the main energetic movements related to the central axis, receptivity and action.

The study of nadis shows that energetic balance does not depend only on activating chakras. Energy must also find clear, organized pathways to reach the regions where it will be used.

About the author

Prof. Tibério Z has more than 30 years of experience teaching spirituality, metaphysics, holistic therapies and consciousness development.