Just Breathe

[zats_clear]

I wanted to share a technique that works wonders in calming my state of mind, letting go of pain, and reorienting my day on a more even keel. If you have done yoga for any length of time, you have heard the term "pranayama." Until a few months ago, that was pretty much all I knew of yogic breathing. On a Shiva Rea dvd, I saw what I now know as Nadi Shodhana and it was a whole new animal. There are numerous sources for Nadi Shodhana on the internet (go figure!), but I found this to be one of the more interesting, talking about an experiment done to determine the effects of this type of breathing.

Take a moment, try it out, and let me know what you think! Those of you who have already done it or other breathing techniques, please chime in as well.

I have copied the following from here:

Nadi Shodhana Nadi Shodhana, or the sweet breath, is simple form of alternate nostril breathing suitable for beginning and advanced students. Nadi means channel and refers to the energy pathways through which prana flows. Shodhana means cleansing -- so Nadi Shodhana means channel cleaning.

Benefits
Calms the mind, soothes anxiety and stress, balances left and right hemispheres, promotes clear thinking

How to do it

• Hold your right hand up and curl your index and middle fingers toward your palm. Place your thumb next to your right nostril and your ring finger and pinky by your left. Close the left nostril by pressing gently against it with your ring finger and pinky, and inhale through the right nostril. The breath should be slow, steady and full.
• Now close the right nostril by pressing gently against it with your thumb, and open your left nostril by relaxing your ring finger and pinky and exhale fully with a slow and steady breath.
• Inhale through the left nostril, close it, and then exhale through the right nostril.

That's one complete round of Nadi Shodhana --

• Inhale through the right nostril
• Exhale through the left
• Inhale through the left
• Exhale through the right.

Begin with 5-10 rounds and add more as you feel ready. Remember to keep your breathing slow, easy and full.

When to do it

Just about any time and any where. Try it as a mental warm-up before meditation to help calm the mind and put you in the mood. You can also do it as part of your centering before beginning an asana or posture routine. Also try it at times throughout the day. Nadi Shodhana helps control stress and anxiety. If you start to feel stressed out, 10 or so rounds will help calm you down. It also helps soothe anxiety caused by flying and other fearful or stressful situations.

Comments

[zats_clear]

we'd love to have you and sashajwolf talk a bit about Sivananda in the comm! Posting is open to all. I do largely Yin and Vinyasa (opposites for contrary!me) and CK does a wide range of more exercise-based yoga practices.

[pepper]

If I can get my head around what I recall of it (in fact, I have pages of notes, somewhere...), I'll happily post something! Or put my 2p in if lizw posts. :)