Self Care Challenge- Day 9
by Jenn Risio
The practice of Alternate Nostril Breathing.. (Nadi Shodhana) Nadi meaning “flow”, Shodhana “purification”.
Just 3 minutes or more a day.. the benefits are felt in the Physical and subtle body! Give it a try🙏
Bring the right hand into Vishnu mudra by folding the tips of the index and middle fingers inward until they touch the palm at the base of the right thumb. Align the length of the ring and pinky fingers on the right hand. During this practice, you will alternately use the right thumb to close the right nostril and the right ring and pinky fingers (together) to close the left nostril.
First, use the right thumb to close the right nostril. Exhale gently, but fully, through the left nostril. Keeping the right nostril closed, inhale through the left nostril and deep into the belly. As you inhale, allow the breath to travel upward along the left side of the spine—from the pelvic floor, up through the organs of reproduction and elimination, through the left kidney, the spleen, the left lung, the heart, and up through the left side of the throat, face, and head. Pause briefly at the crown of the head.
Next, use the ring and pinky fingers of the right hand to gently close the left nostril and simultaneously release the right nostril. Exhale through the right nostril, surrendering the breath down the right side of the body—from the right side of the head, face, and throat, down the right side of the spine through the heart, the right lung, the liver, the right kidney, the organs of reproduction and elimination, and down to the pelvic floor. Pause gently at the bottom of the exhalation.
Keeping the left nostril closed, inhale once again through the right nostril, drawing the breath back up from the pelvic floor, along the right side of the spine—up through the organs of reproduction and elimination, the right kidney, the liver, the right lung, the heart, and up through the right side of the throat, face, and head, pausing briefly at the crown of the head.
Then again, use the right thumb to close the right nostril as you release the left nostril. Exhale through the left nostril, surrendering the breath back down the left side of the body, from the left side of the head, face, and throat, down the left side of the spine—through the heart, the left lung, the spleen, the left kidney, the organs of reproduction and elimination, and once again, down to the pelvic floor. Pause gently at the bottom of the exhalation.
This completes one round of nadi shodhana. The same pattern continues for each additional round: inhale through the left nostril, exhale through the right nostril, inhale through the right nostril, exhale through the left nostril. Repeat this alternating pattern for several more rounds, focusing your awareness on the pathway of the breath—up one side of the body (from the pelvic floor to the crown of the head), and back down the other side of the body (from the crown of the head to the pelvic floor). It is important that the breath remain slow, gentle, fluid, and relaxed throughout the practice.
Complete your last round with an exhalation on the left!! And breathe naturally through both nostrils! You may experience a sense of calm, lightness, and freedom as the breathe moves freely throughout the body. Happy breathing!!!
Benefits
Nadi Shodhana
- Infuses the body with oxygen
- Clears and releases toxins
- Reduces stress and anxiety
- Calms and rejuvenates the nervous system
- Helps to balance hormones
- Supports clear and balanced respiratory channels
- Helps to alleviate respiratory allergies that cause hay fever, sneezing, or wheezing
- Balances solar and lunar, masculine and feminine energies
- Fosters mental clarity and an alert mind
- Enhances the ability to concentrate
- Brings balance to the left and right hemispheres of the brain
