How to Do Alternate Nostril Breathing to Treat Your Anxiety and Relax Your Mind

alternate nostril breathing instructions

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]There’s a type of Yoga practice to treat your anxiety and relax called alternate-nostril breathing. Also known as Nadi Shodhana, this technique carries a larger supply of oxygen to the blood than regular breathing. It soothes your nerves, helps to still your mind, and balances the subtle energy of your body.

Sounds awesome, right? Now, you probably wonder how to do alternate-nostril breathing? How long you should practice Nadi Shodhana? How does this relaxation technique work biologically?

Today I’m going to share alternate nostril breathing instructions, to tame your mischievous, unpredictable, wild mind. Because if you’re like most of us, you have what is known as “monkey mind,” a mind that chatters and is rarely still. Your thoughts keep chattering and jumping around all over the place, just like a monkey. 

Most of us don’t know how to turn off the mind to bring a sense of inner peace and calm. But the yogis and yoginis of India have known about these tools for 5000 years, and western society is just catching up.

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Benefits of Alternate Nostril Breathing: Alternate Nostril Breathing Instructions

  • Calms the mind 
  • Purifies the emotions
  • Balances and improves brain function
  • Improves Sleep
  • Cleanses the lungs
  • Prepares you for meditation
Even just a few minutes of this breathing exercise can have very positive results. You can do it on your work break, or on public transportation, on a park bench or in the comfort of your own home.

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Left nostril is for calming – right nostril is for energy

Your nose is directly linked to your nervous system and brain.

Breathing in through the left nostril will access the right side of your brain. This is the feminine, feeling, nurturing, calm, and cooling hemisphere of your brain.

Breathing in through the right nostril will access the left side of your brain. This is the masculine, thinking, competitive, active, heating hemisphere of your brain.

What’s really cool is approximately every 90 minutes your breath pattern changes, alternating between breathing through the right nostril and then the left. When you consciously alternate your breath between nostrils you access and activate your whole brain.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

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Since your state of mind is reflected in the way you breathe, it makes sense that by controlling the breath you can learn to control your state of mind. Think about it… When you are angry or scared, your breathing is shallow, rapid and irregular; but when you are relaxed or deep in thought, your breathing becomes rhythmic and slow.

By regulating your breath, you not only increase your intake of oxygen, but you are preparing yourself for a grounded, stable mind.

Alternate nostril breathing triggers the parasympathetic nervous system. You can switch your nervous system from a stressed response to a relaxation response.

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When you quiet the mind, all things are possible ~Meister Eckhart

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Instructions: How To Do Alternate Nostril Breathing

1. First, find a quiet place where you can be undisturbed, if only for a few minutes.
 
2. Sit comfortably.
 
3. Use your right thumb to close off the right nostril. 
 
4. Inhale slowly through your left nostril for a count of four.
 
5. Now close the left nostril with your third finger and release the thumb from the right nostril.
 
6. Breathe out through the right nostril for four.
 
7. Breathe in through the right nostril for four. Place your right thumb over your right nostril.
 
8. Release the third finger from left nostril and breathe out through left nostril for four.
 
9. Repeat steps 4-8 for several minutes.
 
10. Notice how you feel and compare it with when you began.
 

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Alternate Nostril Breathing Instructions[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Caution:

Alternate nostril breathing should not be practiced if you have a cold or if your nasal passages are blocked in any way. Under no circumstances should anything be forced.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Now, of course, you cannot really turn off your mind completely. Thoughts come and go and this is natural, but alternate nostril breathing can quiet your mind and restore ease to your body.

I’m also a huge fan of another calming ritual called Yoga Nidra, and use it often in the late afternoon to turn off my mind and tune into my heart, especially after a demanding day.

Yoga Nidra

Relaxation is a state best achieved by using a technique like Yoga Nidra that triggers it. During Yoga Nidra, the body relaxes and the mind follows. When the mind relaxes, the relaxation of the body is further deepened.

Yoga Nidra invites your innate wisdom to rise to the surface of your consciousness so you can tap into the wisdom of your heart. Any doubts you have about what you can do in life have no power in this state. When you are deeply relaxed, you can cooperate with your subconscious mind, which is open to the ideas you give it.

The aim of Yoga Nidra is to induce influence on your reality, experience profound relaxation, eliminate stress, solve interpersonal problems, and promote health.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_raw_js]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[/vc_raw_js][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Conclusion of Alternate Nostril Breathing Instruction

While no one can actually “turn off” their mind, there is much you can do to quieten and calm your mind.
 
Try both of these practices for up to a month before passing judgment on it. You must experience it for yourself to see how well they work for you. Experience is the best teacher. 

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Promise me you won’t hesitate to ask me questions in the comment area below. I’m here to help you and want nothing more for you to be the healthiest version of yourself possible. Let me know if you need anything and I’ll be sure to get back within “hours” most of the time.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

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[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Don’t forget to follow us on Pinterest. Thank you for your time and reading.

The information presented here is in no way meant to serve as medical advice. If you are experiencing symptoms of any kind, please consult with your physician.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

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