Spanda: The Pulsation of Life Within and Around Us

Have you ever noticed how life pulses, always in motion, never truly still? This rhythmic dance of contraction and expansion, ebb and flow, is the essence of Spanda, the divine vibration that animates the universe—and each of us within it.

In Tantric philosophy, Spanda isn’t just something that exists "out there," in the changing seasons, the cycles of the moon, or the waves of the ocean. It’s also alive within us, a sacred pulsation that flows through our breath, our heartbeat, and even the subtle movements of energy in our bodies.

The Universe Within: Witnessing Spanda in Ourselves

Pause for a moment and tune in. Feel the expansion as you inhale—the way your chest, ribs, and belly gently rise. Then notice the contraction of your exhale, the way your body softens inward, releasing what’s no longer needed. This simple act of breathing mirrors the rhythm of the universe, a constant interplay of growth and release.

But it doesn’t stop there. Consider the steady pulse of your heartbeat, an unwavering rhythm that sustains your life without any conscious effort. Or the peristalsis of your colon, moving nourishment through your body and releasing waste, a pulsation vital to your well-being.

Spanda is everywhere—within and without. It’s the flow of life itself, the sacred pulse that connects us to the world around us and to our own inner being.

Resisting the Flow

Yet, as humans, we often resist this natural rhythm.

• Expansion can feel overwhelming, as though we’re stepping into a space too big for our comfort zone.
• Contraction can feel like loss or a shrinking of ourselves, something we’d rather avoid.

We cling to the familiar, wanting to stay exactly where we are. But life doesn’t work that way. To live fully is to move with this pulsation, to embrace both the growing and the letting go.

Just as the moon waxes and wanes, just as tides rise and fall, we are designed to expand and contract, to inhale and exhale, to thrive and release. Resistance only creates tension. Acceptance opens the door to grace.

Flowing with Spanda

Yoga teaches us to align with this divine rhythm. When we stop resisting the natural pulsations of life and learn to flow with them, we begin to live in harmony with ourselves and the universe.

Take a moment to close your eyes and connect with the flow of your breath.

• As you inhale, feel the physical expansion: your chest opening, your ribs widening, your belly softening.
• As you exhale, notice the contraction: the gentle release, the drawing inward.

Now, bring your awareness to your heart—the Anahata Chakra, the space of the unstruck sound. Here, your heartbeat carries the rhythm of Spanda, the pulse of life itself. Without any effort on your part, this sacred beat sustains you.

If you listen deeply, you might notice a subtle interplay: as you inhale, there’s a drawing into the center of your being. As you exhale, there’s a quiet expansion outward from your midline. This is the dance of Spanda within you, a reminder that life flows, endlessly and beautifully.

Living the Pulsation

What would it feel like to stop resisting and start flowing? To trust the rhythm of your own life—the contractions and expansions, the beginnings and endings?

Each moment offers us a choice: to hold tight to what feels safe or to move with the natural pulsations that guide us toward growth and transformation. Yoga invites us to practice this choice on the mat and in life.

So the next time you sit in stillness, breathe deeply and feel the pulsation of Spanda within you. Let it remind you that life is a constant rhythm, a sacred dance. And you are a vital part of it all.

Bring your hands to your heart, and take a moment to honor this flow of life within you. With every inhale, trust the expansion. With every exhale, embrace the release. This is how we align with Spanda—how we live fully, deeply, and in harmony with the divine rhythm of life.

Are you ready to flow with life’s pulsation? Trust the rhythm. Let it guide you.