Yogic Breathing Balances Your Brain
Ever have that oh-so-foggy feeling around three in the afternoon? Or, wake up feeling, out-of-sorts in a way you just can't seem to shake? Yoga provides a wonderful, easy, portable remedy for those foggy-brained feelings.
One of the major practices in yoga is Pranayama, or breathing exercises designed to increase prana (energy) in the body.
There are many different types of pranayama, but a good place to start is with Nadi Shodhana, or Alternate Nostril Breathing.
It increases oxygen to the brain and the entire body, leaving you feeling clear-headed and energized.
The science behind this breath is that a human being in optimum health will alternate breathing out of one nostril, and then the other, every two hours.
This method of breathing actually balances the hemispheres of the brain.
Most of us are not in perfect health, and so this breathing pattern is disturbed.
When breathing is too dominant in the right nostril mental and nervous disturbances occur.
If breathing is too dominant in the left nostril, then reduced brain function, and chronic fatigue will result.
When we breathe predominately through our right nostril, the left hemisphere of the brain, which is responsible for rational, analytical thought processes is activated.
When we breathe through the left nostril, the right hemisphere of the brain, which is responsible for creativity, is turned on.
The practice of Nadi Shodhana allows us to re-pattern the breath, and the brain, into the habit of functioning in an optimal way, bringing us greater vitality, clear thinking and creativity.
How to practice Nadi Shodhana: 1.
Come into a seated position with your spine straight.
2.
Bend the index and middle fingers of your right hand down so they touch the palm of your hand.
Your thumb, ring and pinky fingers will be sticking out.
3.
Use your thumb to close your right nostril, and inhale through your left nostril.
4.
Immediately close your left nostril with your ring finger, release your thumb, and exhale through your right nostril.
5.
Inhale through your right nostril, then close that nostril with your thumb, and exhale through your left.
6.
This completes one round of Nadi Shodhana.
(Continue by inhaling through the left nostril, with the right nostril closed, and so on.
) 7.
Start with three rounds, and build up to 12 or more rounds.
Practice Nadi Shodhana any time you are feeling tired, emotional, or having trouble thinking clearly.
Make it part of your morning routine each day for 40 days and you will be amazed at the increased vigor and energy your brain and body will receive.
One of the major practices in yoga is Pranayama, or breathing exercises designed to increase prana (energy) in the body.
There are many different types of pranayama, but a good place to start is with Nadi Shodhana, or Alternate Nostril Breathing.
It increases oxygen to the brain and the entire body, leaving you feeling clear-headed and energized.
The science behind this breath is that a human being in optimum health will alternate breathing out of one nostril, and then the other, every two hours.
This method of breathing actually balances the hemispheres of the brain.
Most of us are not in perfect health, and so this breathing pattern is disturbed.
When breathing is too dominant in the right nostril mental and nervous disturbances occur.
If breathing is too dominant in the left nostril, then reduced brain function, and chronic fatigue will result.
When we breathe predominately through our right nostril, the left hemisphere of the brain, which is responsible for rational, analytical thought processes is activated.
When we breathe through the left nostril, the right hemisphere of the brain, which is responsible for creativity, is turned on.
The practice of Nadi Shodhana allows us to re-pattern the breath, and the brain, into the habit of functioning in an optimal way, bringing us greater vitality, clear thinking and creativity.
How to practice Nadi Shodhana: 1.
Come into a seated position with your spine straight.
2.
Bend the index and middle fingers of your right hand down so they touch the palm of your hand.
Your thumb, ring and pinky fingers will be sticking out.
3.
Use your thumb to close your right nostril, and inhale through your left nostril.
4.
Immediately close your left nostril with your ring finger, release your thumb, and exhale through your right nostril.
5.
Inhale through your right nostril, then close that nostril with your thumb, and exhale through your left.
6.
This completes one round of Nadi Shodhana.
(Continue by inhaling through the left nostril, with the right nostril closed, and so on.
) 7.
Start with three rounds, and build up to 12 or more rounds.
Practice Nadi Shodhana any time you are feeling tired, emotional, or having trouble thinking clearly.
Make it part of your morning routine each day for 40 days and you will be amazed at the increased vigor and energy your brain and body will receive.
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