Nadi Shodhana is a breathing exercise which comes from the Sanskrit words Nadi, meaning “channel” or “flow” and shodhana, meaning “purification.” This technique aims to clear and purify the channels of the mind and body. Everyone can benefit from this technique.
This breath technique has no contraindications
Reduces stress, anxiety and fears
Balances Left and Right sides of the brain
Brings balance to masculine and feminine energies
Regulates the body’s temperature
Balances the body’s hormones
Helps coordinate mind and thought process and brings mental clarity
Helps you concentrate more
Infuses the body with oxygen
Cleanses the body’s channels by releasing the toxins from the body
Enhances sleep quality
Note: If you get dizzy at any point, stop take a break, and then re-start, but if dizziness continues to occur, then discontinue.
Let’s Begin:
Begin in a quiet meditative seated position with back straight.
Relax your face, throat, chest, abdomen.
Begin with a few deep breaths.
Take your Right hand and fold your index and middle finger inward to your palm, (or you can place your index and middle finger on your forehead on the 3rd eye area/ point between the eyebrows).
With your ring finger of the right hand gently close the left nostril and exhale through the right nostril.
Keeping the left nostril still closed, inhale through the right nostril
Now release the left nostril and block the right nostril with your right thumb, exhale out through the left nostril.
Now Inhale through the left nostril, and then block the left nostril with your right ring finger, exhale out through right nostril.
This completes round one of Nadi shodhana. Continue the same pattern for each round.
Inhale through the right nostril, and then block the right nostril with your right thumb, exhale out through the left nostril.
Inhale through the left nostril, and then block the left nostril with you right ring finger, exhale out through right nostril.
Continue to do the alternate nostril breathing. It can be as short as 2 minutes or as long as 20 minutes.
Remember to keep the breaths slow, gentle and relaxed.
