Nadi Sodhana (Alternate Nostril Breathing)

[Why Syzygy]

I read about this technique long time ago. It usually comes up when I'm researching any yogi subject. I thought it was uncomfortable and worthless, actually. But of late, I've been having little mental whirlwinds. Off balance. Figity. Which means lots of activity but no results. So I remembered this breathing advice, and tried it. It really works. It just gets me back to balance.

Give it a try. I didn't like it at first.

http://www.holisticonline.com/yoga/hol_yoga_breathing-ex-nadisodh.htm
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The Scientific Confirmation of Alternate Nostril Breathing

Medical science has recently discovered the nasal cycle, something that was known by the yogis thousands of years ago. Scientists have recently found that we don't breathe equally with both nostrils, that one nostril is much easier to breathe through than the other at any particular time and that this alternates about every three hours. The yogis claim that the natural period is every two hours, but we must remember these studies were done on people who do not have an optimum health level.

Scientists also discovered that the nasal cycle corresponds with brain function. The electrical activity of the brain was found to be greater on the side opposite the less congested nostril. 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.

Medical science has not quite caught up with the ancient yogis yet. The yogis went one step further. They observed that a lot of disease was due to the nasal cycle being disturbed; that is, if a person breathed for too long through one nostril. To prevent and correct this condition, they developed the alternate nostril breathing technique. This clears any blockage to air flow in the nostrils and reestablishes the natural nasal cycle. 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.

Technique

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.
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[southerncrone]

1. This sounds quick & easy enough.

These days, quick & easy are about all I can handle.
Thanks for this, Why S! :hi:

[Melissa G]

2. Be sure and do it for at least 3 minutes.

That's how long it takes to switch over your brain.

[Why Syzygy]

3. I didn't know that.

I've had experiential results in less time. I'll give it a go for three minutes. Thanks for mentioning that.

[Melissa G]

4. It starts to work immediately but switch over takes 3 minutes

That's what I was taught anyway in my tradition.

A really lovely vacation is to do left nostril breathing for 31 minutes for 90 days. This practice is for breaking habits. I found it to be very restful.