But because of it, I have had to research some stuff...such as
Nadi Sodhana
(or to me and you...alternate nasal breathing )
If you are anything like I was before I started doing yoga, you are probably still thinking..'what ever is she on about?'
It is a fascinating subject.
As it sais on the can it is the practice of breathing through the nostrils alternately.
So the right nostril is gently pinched and you breathe in for a count of four through the left nostril and then left nostril is pinched and at the same time the right one is released and you exhale through right one for 4 counts. Then you breathe in through the same one (right) that you have just exhaled through. Pinch that nostril and breath out through the left nostril for a count of 4 and then in for a count of 4. ( I know that probably sounds really complicated).
So here is how the professionals explain it.....
- Close the right nostril with your right thumb and inhale through the left nostril. Do this to the count of four seconds.
- Immediately close the left nostril with your right ring finger and little finger, and at the same time remove your thumb from the right nostril, and exhale through this nostril. Do this to the count of eight seconds. This completes a half round.
- Inhale through the right nostril to the count of four seconds. Close the right nostril with your right thumb and exhale through the left nostril to the count of eight seconds. This completes one full round.
BY holisticonline.com
I have done this before but it was very interesting to delve into it a bit more.
Its something you can do pretty much anywhere at any time although they do say it is better in a morning on an empty stomach or several hrs after eating.
Apparently we alternate between our nostrils with out realising it, at various times of day, and a healthy person will alternate nostrils on average every couple of hours. and also one is usually more difficult to breathe through than the other.
According to yogis if the breath continues to flow through just one nostril for more than 2 hours that it can have an adverse affect on our health, and that the longer that continues the worse the health will get.
If the breath continues to flow through the right then the result can be a mental and nervous disturbance.
If it is the left then the result is chronic fatigue and reduced brain function.
recent scientific studies have revealed similar results.
The right side of the brain controls creative activity, while the left side controls logical verbal activity. The research showed that when the left nostril was less obstructed, the right side of the brain was predominant. Test subjects were indeed found to do better on creative tests. Similarly when the right nostril was less obstructed the left side of the brain was predominant. Test subjects did better on verbal skills.For example, the yogis have known for a long time that prolonged breathing through the left nostril only (over a period of years) will produce asthma. They also know that this so-called incurable disease can be easily eliminated by teaching the patient to breathe through the right nostril until the asthma is cured, and then to prevent it recurring by doing the alternate nostril breathing technique. The yogis also believe that diabetes is caused to a large extent by breathing mainly through the right nostril. (by holisticonline.com )
What a fascinating subject. I love looking/practicing this pranayama.
Yogis believe that this exercise will clean and rejuvenate your vital channels of energy. And I can certainly do with some of that.....
(should be practiced with an experienced teacher if not done before x )
Its something you can do pretty much anywhere at any time although they do say it is better in a morning on an empty stomach or several hrs after eating.
Apparently we alternate between our nostrils with out realising it, at various times of day, and a healthy person will alternate nostrils on average every couple of hours. and also one is usually more difficult to breathe through than the other.
According to yogis if the breath continues to flow through just one nostril for more than 2 hours that it can have an adverse affect on our health, and that the longer that continues the worse the health will get.
If the breath continues to flow through the right then the result can be a mental and nervous disturbance.
If it is the left then the result is chronic fatigue and reduced brain function.
recent scientific studies have revealed similar results.
The right side of the brain controls creative activity, while the left side controls logical verbal activity. The research showed that when the left nostril was less obstructed, the right side of the brain was predominant. Test subjects were indeed found to do better on creative tests. Similarly when the right nostril was less obstructed the left side of the brain was predominant. Test subjects did better on verbal skills.For example, the yogis have known for a long time that prolonged breathing through the left nostril only (over a period of years) will produce asthma. They also know that this so-called incurable disease can be easily eliminated by teaching the patient to breathe through the right nostril until the asthma is cured, and then to prevent it recurring by doing the alternate nostril breathing technique. The yogis also believe that diabetes is caused to a large extent by breathing mainly through the right nostril. (by holisticonline.com )
What a fascinating subject. I love looking/practicing this pranayama. Yogis believe that this exercise will clean and rejuvenate your vital channels of energy. And I can certainly do with some of that.....
(should be practiced with an experienced teacher if not done before x )
I couldnt even remember where my knees where!!!!!
