Breathing Techniques : NADI SHODHANA

bravimacarena
May 12, 2023
2 min read

Breathing techniques are an essential part of any yoga practice, and they can help to clam the mind, reduce stress, and improve overall well-being.

As I´ve been on a retreat in Thailand with my dearest Yoga teachers, Bess Prescott and Tahl Rinsky, I went back to daily early morning breathing techniques followed by meditation.

Today I am going to share with you specially Nadi Shodhana, also known as "Alternate Nostril Breathing". This technique helps us to balance the left and the right side of the body and mind, promoting harmony and balance, and improving mental focus. It also purifies the 2 main Nadi (channels) of the body, ida (left) and pinball (right)

It involves using the finders to block off one nostril at a time while breathing in and/or out through the other nostril.

To practice Nadi Shodhana:

Sit in a confortable position with an upright spine.
Rest the left hand on the left knee or thigh with Gyan Mudra (thumb and index finger together, other three fingers straight), and bring the right hand close to your face with Vishnu Mudra (index and middle fingers resting on the palm of your hand, the other three straight. You will use the thumb to block the right nostril and the ring finger to block the left nostril)
Take a deep breath in, use your thumb to block the right nostril, exhale through the left. Inhale thought the left, at the top of the inhale use the ring finger to block the left nostril and exhale through the right. Inhale through the right nostril, at the top of the inhale use the thumb to bock the right nostril, exhale through the left. Repeat this pattern for as long as you wish, ideally 10 or more rounds. Always finish exhaling through the left nostril.
It is important to maintain slow, steady breathing throughout the practice, and to avoid any strain or discomfort in the breath or the body.