Among the many pranayamas designed to prepare the human body for receiving a large amount of energy, Nadi Shodhana helps cleanse the subtle life channels in the human body.
Features of this Pranayama
The exercise is a powerful breathing practice used to achieve deep meditative techniques. Performing Nadi relaxes all muscles, calms the mind, and leads to inner peace and balance.
The practice frees up clamped energy channels in the human body. Physiologically, the technique balances the amount of air that passes through the nose. In ordinary life, a person breathes more actively through one nostril than the other. Nadi Shodhana “equalizes” the amount of oxygen entering through the nose.
Practicing Nadi Shodhana will not only allow you to grow spiritually but also improve your health and quality of life.
Benefits
- the body gets the opportunity to smoothly get rid of toxins;
- a person becomes calm and balanced;
- metabolism improves due to the systematic enrichment of the body with oxygen;
- a person gets rid of energy accumulations and blocks, preparing himself for other practices and more complex stages of this exercise;
- the nervous system comes into a state of calmness and balance;
- the vital capacity of the lungs increases;
- the blood is cleansed;
- the respiratory system is improved;
- internal organs receive a light massage;
- asthma is corrected.
Contraindications
It is not recommended to perform the breathing technique for people suffering from mental disorders or diseases, as well as practitioners with high blood pressure and heart diseases.
The practice is contraindicated for pregnant women and children under 14 years of age.
Technique
The mastery of Nadi Shodhana takes place on several levels.
Beginners can master the first stages without resorting to the help of specialists. It is necessary to contact a practicing yogi for a full understanding of the practice in order to avoid health problems or incorrect execution of the exercise.
The technique is not aimed at overcoming physiological and psycho-emotional barriers and is not suitable for people who are guided by such principles.
Sequence of Stage 1 Technique
- Sit in Padmasana . In the adopted position, the body should feel comfort, staying with a straight back for 15 minutes.
- The head is vertical.
- The body is relaxed, the mind is calm, extraneous thoughts are absent.
- Air evenly enters the calm, peaceful body.
- The middle and index fingers of the right hand are located on the forehead between the eyebrows.
- The thumb is near the right nostril, the ring finger is near the left.
- The right nostril is closed with the thumb. Inhales and exhales, in the amount of five cycles, are carried out through the left.
- Make 5 breathing cycles through the right nostril. The other side is closed.
- Remove your hand from your face.
- Make 5 cycles with your nose.
$1. ne cycle means one inhale and exhale. The breathing time should be the same. To do this, you can mentally count on the inhale, focusing on a convenient number. For example, 3 or 4.This exercise is basic and requires two weeks of practice, after which the next level of Nadi Shodhana follows.
Stage 2
- The position of the fingers of the hand is the same as in level
- Breathing occurs alternately.
- Inhale through the left nostril, the right is closed.
- Exhale through the left nostril, the right is closed with the thumb.
- The next inhale through the right nostril, exhale through the left, alternately changing fingers.
There are 10 cycles in the second stage. You can count with the number 2 or 3, gradually increasing it. At this level, breathing can reach the number 24 with daily repetition and observance of complete physical comfort.
Stage 3
Performing this technique is more serious. The execution procedure remains the same as in the second level. The ratio of breathing calculation changes. Exhalation is performed at a count twice the inhalation. Inhaling through the free nostril and counting to 5, exhalation should occur at the count of 10. The fingers must be changed alternately. This level leads a person to cleansing the consciousness.
Stage 4
The most difficult stage, which requires the supervision of a specialist and sequence.
The execution remains the same, with the addition of breath holding.
- Inhale for a count of 5 (the number may be less).
$1. . Breath holding for a count of 5.
$1. . Exhale for a count of 5.
The cycle consists of 10 repetitions, with alternating changes of nostrils. Most often, the leading number is four. The fourth level is recommended to be practiced twice a day.Performing Nadi Shodhana should not be stressful for the body. The body should be in a state of comfort, without the desire to catch your breath and the appearance of tremors in the muscles. The practice of this pranayama will allow you to achieve harmony and fill the body with a flow of energy, learning yogic secrets and new exercises.
