Breathing practices or Pranayama in the yoga culture can have many positive effects. If you are feeling tired, having trouble focusing, experiencing difficulty sleeping, or feeling anxious, there is a breathing technique that you may find helpful. Alternate Nostril Breathing, or Nadi Shodhana, is a breathing practice that can restore balance in the subtle energy channels in the body to calm the mind and reduce tension. Follow the steps below to complete this practice:
1) Find a comfortable seated position, making sure your spine is straight
2) Relax your left hand in your lap or on your knee
3) Bring your right hand to your face, resting your index and middle finger between your eyebrows, your thumb on the right nostril, and your ring finger on the left nostril
4) Close your eyes and take a deep breath in and out through your nose
5) Close the right nostril with your thumb and inhale slowly through the left
6) Close the left nostril with your ring finger and exhale slowly through the right
7) Inhale again through the right nostril
8) Close the right nostril and exhale through the left
This completes one round. Continue for 3-10 rounds, focusing on the inhales and exhales. With regular practice, you can increase your time spent drawing your breath in and out for increased stress reduction and grounding.
