Friday, March 18, 2011

Alternate Nostril Breath

This is an ancient and beautiful exercise that can do an impressive job of bringing the two hemispheres of your brain into harmony. Relax your dominant hand so that your fingers curl naturally. Center that hand in front of your nose (palm facing in) with your arm resting comfortably on your chest.

Gently touch the tip of the thumb (dominant hand) against the nostril indentation just above the flare, and the tip of your ring finger to the indentation on the other side. This leaves the tips of your index and middle fingers resting on your forehead just above brow level. Delicate pressure is enough to close a nostril since the passage narrows markedly at that point.

Avoid the tendency to slouch or to tuck your head down or off to one side. Continue only for as long as you are comfortable and focused. Eyes open or closed as you wish.

The physical setup is the same as for Eye of the Sun, except instead of traveling in a complete circle, the air now flows across an “arch” and backtracks across that same arch. Breathe IN through your RIGHT nostril and OUT through your LEFT. Then back IN through the LEFT and OUT through your RIGHT.

Be well. Breathe beautifully.

LINK: EYE OF THE SUN

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