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Pranayamas are perhaps the most misunderstood part of yog in modern times. One must understand that there are two types of pranayams: hyper and hypo. As the name suggest the hyper pranayams are faster and the hypos ones are slower. Stop for a minute and look around yourself in nature and observe the breathing rates of different animals or insects around you. You will find that animals that breathe the fastest have the shortest life span while animals that breathe the slowest have the longest. In order to live longer and healthier, hyper pranayamas should be avoided unless advised by your guru. So go slow for the glow.
Once you are comfortable with ujai breathing which was described in our earlier issue you can start practicing Nadi Shodnam pranayam. It allows the free flow of prana in your body which creates a balance in your body and gives you an inner peace. This is then reflected in your aura and the radiance draws positive energies around you wherever you go.
Steps for Nadi Shodnam pranayama
1. Sit straight, preferable in vajrasana. If not, keep your back absolutely straight and don’t use any artificial support.
2. Put your middle finger at the point between your eyebrows. Your ring finger presses your left nostril and your thumb is on your right nostril.
3. As you inhale fill your stomach with air and push it out. There should be a hissing sound coming from your throat (like in ujai breathing). On exhalation your stomach is pulled in.
4. You inhale from your left nostril and exhale through your right. And then inhale through your right nostril and exhale through the left.
5. Your inhalation should be for the count 4 and exhalation to the count of 12.
6. It should be a rhythmic movement without any breath retention.
Points to remember
· Wear loose-fitting clothes
· Choose a well-ventilated room, and don’t sit in the direct blast of the fan, cooler, or air-conditioner
· Make sure that you don’t eat anything substantial two hours before beginning the pranayam, and for an hour after.
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