Nadi Shodana (Alternate Nostril Breathing)

Nadis are subtle energy channels in the body that can get blocked because to various reasons, like stress, toxicity in the physical body, physical or mental trauma, unhealthy lifestyle. The Nadi Shodhan pranayama is a breathing technique that helps clear these blocked energy channels, thus calming the mind. This technique is also known as Anulom Vilom pranayama.

How to perform:

  • Sit comfortably, relaxing your shoulders and keeping your back erect. Smile gently.

  • Place your left hand on the left knee and open palm or keeping it in Chin Mudra (thumb and index finger gently touching together at the tips).

  • Place the tip of the index and middle fingers of the right hand in between the eyebrows, the ring finger on the left nostril, and the thumb on the right nostril, the little finger rests. We will use the ring finger to open or close the left nostril and thumb for the right nostril.

  • Inhale from both nostrils, press your thumb on the right nostril and breathe out gently through the left nostril.

  • Now breathe in from the left nostril and then press the left nostril gently with the ring finger. Release the right thumb from the right nostril, breathe out from the right.

  • Breathe in from the right nostril and exhale from the left. You have now completed one round of Nadi Shodhan pranayama. Continue inhaling and exhaling from alternate nostrils.

  • Practice 8-10 rounds initially and in time you may increase the number of rounds.

Benefits:

  • Calms, purifies and strengthens your entire nervous system.

  • Removes obstruction and constriction in the channels.

  • Brings balance to the mind and emotions.

  • Rejuvenates the mind, memory and concentration.

  • Balances and harmonizes the right and left channels of the body, as well as the right and left sides of the brain.

  • Rejuvenates the tissues as fresh oxygen enters each cell.

  • Reduces stress and anxiety.

  • Sharpens the five senses.

  • Balances blood pressure.

  • Maintains the body's temperature.

Contraindications:

  • Cold, fever, flu.

  • Full stomach.

More breathing practices are on my website https://breathing.inspirationforyou.club/ . Enjoy!