Pranayam: Breathing Exercise - Alternate Nostril (Anuloma Viloma)

Namaste, Hari Om,

"Pranayam, or control/regulation of the life force is thus the fourth step in the ashtanga yog system laid down by Patanjali. It comes after yam, niyam and asan.  So the first indicator is, it should be undertaken after getting at least reasonable degree of proficiency in the asans. Control of the body through posture is the first step, control of the breath is the second, which will eventually lead to the control of the pran or life force." 

We will talk more about breathing (Pranayam) styles in a future post, but wanted to quickly high light Pranayam basics.

So many of us go about life not breathing right, this effects the way we act, look and more importantly think. Breath is so critical, it keeps us going everyday and it is linked to every emotion. When you are angry you breathe heavier and shorter breaths are taken, before you (almost) get in an accident you take that initial quick inhalation which rushes air to the brain for quick thinking.

Control of the mind leads to wonderful things, we can unlock our true potential if we can control the life (breath). Its true we only use a small percentage of our mental power, through Pranayam we can use more. Below is a guide to Alternate Nostril Breathing, its the basic introduction thats really easy to start, you can start feeling the effects fast, calming and slower more profound thinking and emotionally you will start to become happier. For those with tests, interviews or performances, Pranayam can really help to alleviate stress and anxiety.

It makes perfect sense to do this, we can ease our body and mind, breathing is strongly linked to chakra wakening as well, the power within the chakras (if done under a proper teacher and right mindset) will enhance our lives even more. I am truly blessed to have a great yoga guru, a teacher that can open your mind to the scientific and spiritual reasons for asanas, pranayam and physical movements will help you to move forward in Yogic practice. Everything is within us, we just have to have the will to look within, the energy, guidance and love will come once we have the desire to look within.

Nice guide thanks to; http://www.abc-of-yoga.com/pranayama/basic/viloma.asp Below information and steps comes from this site, please enjoy.

Jai Shri Krishna, Hari Om Tat Sat
-SimpleHinduBhai

One Round of Anuloma Viloma (Alternate Nostril Breathing)

	Inhale through the left nostril, closing the right with the thumb, to the count of four.
	Hold the breath, closing both nostrils, to the count of sixteen.
	Exhale through the right nostril, closing the left with the ring and little fingers, to the count of eight.
	Inhale through the right nostril, keeping the left nostril closed with the ring and little fingers, to the count of four.
	Hold the breath, closing both nostrils, to the count of sixteen.
	Exhale through the left nostril, keeping the right closed with the thumb, to the count of eight.

Benefits of Anuloma Viloma

The exercise of the Anuloma Viloma produces optimum function to both sides of the brain: that is optimum creativity and optimum logical verbal activity. This will make both sides of the brain, the left side which is responsible for logical thinking and the right side which is responsible for creative thinking to function properly. This will lead to a balance between a person's creative and logical thinking. The Yogis consider this to be the best technique to calm the mind and the Nervous System. 

Anuloma Viloma: The Scientific Confirmation

Medical science has recently discovered the nasal cycle, something that was already discovered by the Yogis thousands of years ago. Modern scientists found out that we do not breathe equally on both nostrils, that is one nostril is much easier to breathe through than the other at any particular time. Each nostril alternates about every three hours. The Yogis claim that the natural period is every two hours, but we must remember these studies were done on people who do not have an optimum Health level. 

Scientists also discovered that the nasal cycle corresponds with brain function. The electrical activity of the brain was found to be greater on the side opposite the less congested nostril. The right side of the brain controls creative activity, while the left side controls logical verbal activity. The research showed that when the left nostril was less obstructed, the right side of the brain was predominant. Test subjects were indeed found to do better on creative tests. Similarly when the right nostril was less obstructed the left side of the brain was predominant. Test subjects did better on verbal skills. 

Medical science has not quite caught up with the ancient Yogis yet. The Ancient Yogis even went one step further. They observed that a lot of diseases were due to disturbances of the nasal cycle or if a person breathe for too long through one nostril. To prevent and correct this condition, they developed the Alternate Nostril Breathing Technique. This clears any blockage the airflow in the nostrils and reestablishes the natural nasal cycle. For example, the Yogis have known for a long time that prolonged breathing through the left nostril only (over a period of years) will cause Asthma. They also know that this so-called incurable disease can be easily treated by teaching the patient to breathe through the right nostril until the Asthma is cured and prevent it from recurring by doing the Alternate Nostril Breathing Technique. The Yogis also believe that Diabetes is caused, to a large extent, by breathing mainly through the right nostril.