What is the Nadi Sodhana for Exercise?
The Nadi Sodhana exercise is connected to the moon and sun energy. Ida & Pingala. Moon and sun breathing exercise to bring your body and mind back into balance. By doing this exercise you can calm energy or, on the contrary, generate energy. Read further on to learn this exercise.
What does the exercise affect?
The nadi sodhana exercise has an effect on the brain. In this exercise we first breathe in through the left nostril. This is Ida (moon) the side of relaxation. The left hemisphere.
If we started the exercise the other way around. First close the left nostril and the first inhalation through the right nostril, then we activate the right hemisphere (Pingala).
So there are two ways to perform this exercise.
In Ayurveda we speak of the nadis (energy channels). Prana (life energy) flows through this. Through the Nadi Sodhana exercise, the energy of Ida and Pingala flows through the nadis. It affects the energy level in the body and brain.
This is a great exercise to start or end your day with.
You will sit comfortably for this exercise. This can be done cross-legged or on your knees. Take some natural breaths before you start the exercises. Then follow the steps below.
This is how you practice nadi sodhana
- Bring your right hand to your face.
- Place your right thumb on your right nostril
- Place your index and middle fingers on the third eye (between your eyebrows)
- Place your ring finger on your left nostril.
- Close your right nostril and inhale through your left nostril (ida)
- Close your left nostril and exhale through your right nostril – Inhale through your right nostril
- Close your right nostril
- Exhale through your left nostril
- Breathe in through your left nostril
- Close your left nostril
- Exhale through your right nostril
- Breathe in through your right nostril
- Close your right nostril
- Exhale through your left nostril
- Repeat the above exercise 10 more times or as long as you want
Want to deepen your practice in pranayama or breathwork? Feel welcome to book a 1:1 guidance session with me or check my online courses.
Other blogs about the breath that might be interesting for you
- Sheetali Pranayama – cooling breath
- Inner healing journey with the breath
- Follow your own breathing rhythm
- Pain in the body is a messenger to listen to
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