Sushumna

Sushumna is a term from Sanskrit meaning "central" or "one that carries easily." In yogic and tantric traditions, the sushumna nadi is described as the principal channel of the subtle body through which prana and, in some models, kundalini travel. It is commonly depicted as a vertical central canal running along the spinal column from the base of the spine (at the muladhara chakra) to the crown of the head (the sahasrara chakra), passing through the major chakras.

Alongside the sushumna are two other nadis, Ida and Pingala, described as lunar and solar currents that encircle the central channel and weave around the chakras. In many texts, the ascent of kundalini is linked to the awakening and movement of prana through the sushumna, with Ida and Pingala facilitating the energy flow on either side and at times crossing the chakras. When kundalini rises, it is said to travel upward through the sushumna, crossing each chakra in succession and culminating in union at the sahasrara.

Different traditions offer various details about the opening, activation, and experiences associated with the sushumna. Some sources describe it as dormant until spiritual practices open or purify the pathways; others treat it as a latent potential accessible through disciplined meditation, breathwork, and tapasya.

In contemporary yoga discourse, the sushumna is used as a conceptual tool to describe inner energy movement and concentration during meditation and pranayama. It is not recognized as a physical structure by modern anatomy.