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Josh Robinson
Australia
1 Posts |
 Posted - Jun 07 2016 : 8:58:41 PM
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would i gain any benefit from blocking my right nostril and breathing just through the left for a period of time during the day?
ive read that the left nostril stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system and calms the brain/body.
i cant practice pranayama at the moment so im hoping that maybe i will get some benefit from this? |
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Christi
United Kingdom
4379 Posts |
Posted - Jun 08 2016 : 07:55:02 AM
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Hi Josh,
Closing the right nostril and breathing only through the left is a practice called Chandra Pranayama. The opposite, closing the left nostril and breathing only through the right, is called Surya Pranayama.
When we breathe only through one nostril, it will cause one of the side channels to become activated. Closing the right nostril and breathing through the left (Chandra Pranayama) will cause the ida nadi to become more active. Closing the left nostril and breathing through the right (Surya Pranayama) will cause the pingala nadi to become more active.
The ida nadi, or left channel, is associated with the moon, water, calmness, peace etc. which is why you have been told that it can be calming. The pingala nadi, is associated with the sun, fire, heat, activity and movement etc.
With AYP Yoga, two things are advised. One is not to engage in spiritual practices outside of practice times. It is best to go out and enjoy your life and be active, which helps to integrate and balance out the energy that is activated during practice times. The second thing that is advised is not to try to micro-manage the movement of prana in the chakras and nadis of the subtle body.
Both Chandra Pranayama and Surya Pranayama are forms of micro-management.
If you are not able to practice Spinal Breathing Pranayama during your sitting practices, then you can use Alternate Nostril Breathing (Anuloma Viloma) instead. Alternate Nostril Breathing uses exactly the same principles as both Surya Pranayama and Chandra Pranayama, but combines both, so both side channels are charged with prana equally. This gives a much safer and more effective form of purification than activating only one channel at the expense of the other. It is also very calming and relaxing and prepares the body well for meditation.
Christi
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left nostril breathing outside of pranayama
