Nadi Shodhana derives from Sanskrit: ‘Nadi’ means Channel and ‘Shodhana’ means purification. Nadi Shodhana is also often referred to alternate Nostril Breathing. It is a powerful Pranayama which purifies the subtle channels of the mind-body organism and balances male & female energies. The right nostril is referred to as the Solar (male) channel whereas the left one is referred to as the Lunar (female) channel.
It is important to start inhaling at the left nostril and also finish on the left. This calms down the nervous system as the lunar channel will get more activated. Moon/ lunar qualities are stability, intuition, reception, humbleness, compassion and introspective; whereas sun/ solar qualities are active, radiant, projective, outgoing, extrovert and strength.
Nadi Shodhana Pacifies All Three Doshas And Has Many Benefits:
oxygenates the whole body
releases and clears out toxins
calms down the nervous system
reduces anxiety and stress
balances respiratory channels
enhances mental clarity
enhanes alertness
enhances concentration
balances the right and left hemispheres of the brain
better sleep
How To Start Practicing?
When I started implementing Nadi Shodhana into my daily regimen I started with 5 minutes daily and then gradually increased it up to 10 minutes.
Usually I start my meditation practice with Nadi Shodhana, to be more centred and anchored in my seat.
Tip
If you tend to have difficulty falling asleep, then this is also a great practice to ease into sleep