Alternate Nostril Breathing

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Nadi Shodhana

Nadi shodhana is a purifying as well as a balancing pranayama. The Sanskrit term nadi means ‘channel’ or ‘flow’ and shodhana means ‘purification’. This suggests that the practice of nadi shodhana purifies the network of psychic energy channels in the body. The logic behind nadi shodhana pranayama states that there is a constant pranic flow through the network of psychic channels present throughout in the body. These networks are not physically visible and Nadi shodhana is the process which aims to cleanse these networks.

Techniques of Nadi Shodhana Pranayama

• Sit straight in a comfortable meditative posture
• Keep the spine straight but comfortable
• Gently place right middle and index fingers at the center of eyebrow when you are doing nadi shodhana pranayama
• Keep right thumb beside right nostril and ring finger beside left nostril
• Use the thumb and ring finger to alternately block and unblock the nostrils while doing nadi shodhana pranayama
• Bring the breath flow to its natural pace
• Make sure that the breath is completely relaxed and natural when doing nadi shodhana pranayama
• Softly press the right nostril using right thumb
• Inhale and exhale 10 times from left nostril
• Release right nostril and press left nostril with ring finger
• Inhale and exhale 10 times from right nostril

Contraindications when doing nadi shodhana pranayama

Some of the points you need to keep in mind when doing nadi shodhana include:

• Cold
• Fever
• Do not practice forcefully

Benefits of nadi shodhana pranayama

• Improves breathing capacity
• When you do nadi shodhana pranayama it Strengthens lungs
• Develops body balance and clarity of mind
• Purifies the nervous system
• Calms down mental turbulence