Day: February 17, 2023

February 2023 – Pranayama (Breathing): Nadi Shodhana Pranayama (Alternate Nostril / Channel Clearing Breath)

by Tarryn Tyler - Daily Yogiposted in 4 Pranayama, Self Care

Table of contents

Happy February 17, 2023 – Pranayama (Breathing): Nadi Shodhana Pranayama (Alternate Nostril / Channel Clearing Breath)

Good morning Yogis! We are at the end of our week of special Pranayama practices! We will start a special meditation-focused week next week, and today we will try a a meditative Pranayama practice – Nadi Shodhana (NAH-dee show-DAH-nuh). This literally translates as “channel-clearing” but we frequently use a more descriptive translation of alternate-nostril breathing.

cool perspective close-up modern black metal sculpture from decordova sculpture garden among bright green sunlit trees - pranayama breath breathing Quote: Breathing is meditation; life is a meditation. You have to breathe in order to live, so breathing is how you get in touch with the sacred space of your heart. - Willow Smith
Breathing is meditation; life is a meditation. You have to breathe in order to live, so breathing is how you get in touch with the sacred space of your heart. – Willow Smith

Today’s Positive Practice suggestion

Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is Nadi Shodhana or Channel Clearing, a Pranayama Practice. Most of us have tried diaphragmatic breathing, which is part one of this alternate-nostril breath. We recommend trying this breath technique during meditation! This is also a great calming technique for anxiety.

This technique is meant to clear the body’s energy channels, and I find it is super cleansing for the entire respiratory system – you may want to keep some tissues handy for this technique, and do not perform if you have a stuffy nose! You can also try a Guided Pranayama Meditation Practice – Nadi Shodhana.

Diaphragmatic Breath

  • Start in a comfortable seat by evaluating your current breath pattern. Place one hand on your chest, and the other on your belly. Breathe in and out, and notice when the hands resting on your belly and chest move to indicate expansion. You SHOULD use your diaphragm and breathe into your belly, so your belly expands on the inhale and contracts on the exhale. Most of us breathe shallowly into our chest only, and our belly hand never moves!
  • Breathe in and make sure your belly expands, pushing your hand out as your entire torso fills with air
  • Breathe out, contracting the belly, making sure you empty the lungs completely
  • Continue breathing in to a full count of 6, and out to a full count of 6, using your diaphragm to fill your lungs with air, and contract the belly to empty lungs completely. Focus on keeping your chest hand fairly still, and using your diaphragm to breathe into your belly.

Nadi Shodhana Pranayama – Channel Clearing / Alternate-Nostril Breathing

  • Get in position – you will want to come into a comfortable seat. Place your left hand on your left knee. Bring your right hand into a Vishnu Mudra, folding your first two fingers to your palm (or if this is not comfortable, bring all three center fingers to the palm, or rest your index and middle fingers on your forehead/third eye)
  • Use the right thumb to close the right nostril. Exhale and then inhale fully through your left nostril only, keeping your diaphragmatic breath technique, breathing into your belly.
  • Move your right ring and pinky finger to close the left nostril. Exhale and then inhale fully through your right nostril only.
  • Continue this alternate-nostril breathing for 3-5 minutes. Remember, exhale and inhale, then switch sides.

This technique can be quite confusing – you may want to follow along our recommended video this first time!

Want more on Pranayama? Check out our Pranayama Guide!

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We are completing our series covering the four upper limbs today with Samadhi (enlightenment)! ⁣ Today we are discussing and trying out Dhyana (full meditation)! You can try this with our breath focused meditation, and then allowing your mind to quiet, or a guided meditation to help bring this state. Please see full post for more info and links to a recommended guided meditation!⁣ Today we are discussing and trying out Dharana (intense focus)! Most meditative practices are Dharana. You can try this with our breath focused meditation, body scanning in Shavasana / corpse pose after an Asana practice, a meditative hike or drive, with a guided meditation, mandalas, flame gazing, or on your own.. whatever feels right to you! ⁣ Today we are revisiting the 5th Limb of Yoga - Pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses)! You can try this with Shavasana / corpse pose after an Asana practice, with a guided meditation, or on your own.. whatever feels right to you! ⁣ 𝘉𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦, 𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘯𝘦’𝘴 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦. - 𝘓𝘶𝘤𝘦 𝘐𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘺⁣ Today is Asana Day and we are in a meditation-focused June. Today we are keeping the moving meditation theme for the weekend, and revisiting the meditative flow of Vinyasa Yoga. ⁣ 𝘈𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘐𝘚 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. - 𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘚. 𝘞𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘴⁣ Today is Ishvara Pranidhana / Surrender Day. We are also in the middle of a daily meditation challenge for the month. Today we are getting our OMs on! ⁣ 𝘕𝘰 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘣𝘢𝘥 𝘦𝘯𝘥, 𝘦𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦. - 𝘉𝘩𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘷𝘢𝘥 𝘎𝘪𝘵𝘢⁣

Share your Practice

Please comment and let me know what you thought of this Pranayama exercise! Have you tried this alternate-nostril breath? Do you have another Pranayama practice you particularly enjoy? Always remember, be kind!

More Positive Practices

Missed yesterday’s post? Read it here!