Wellness: Alternate Nostril Breathing

Alternate nostril breathing is a breathing technique that I have learned during the Yoga Certification journey I am currently undergoing.  Are you feeling stressed or overwhelmed? This breathing technique is a fantastic way to calm the mind and bring clarity to your emotions. Its one that I use to bring myself to the moment when I feel high anxiety. 

Benefits:

• Balances the right and left hemisphere of the brain
• Instills clarity to your mind and emotions
• Guides your thoughts to the present moment
• Alleviates headaches and feelings of high anxiety
• Helps to normalize the heating and cooling systems of your body

Begin in a comfortable seated position. Begin with a few rounds of full inhales and exhales. 

Bring your right hand out lifting the pinky and thumb out. Support your right elbow with your left hand.

Place your thumb on your right nostril to close it and exhale out of your left nostril.

Inhale deeply through your left nostril

Hold your breath and release your thumb.

Continue to hold your breath while place your pinky on your left nostril.

Exhale out of your right nostril.

Inhale in your right nostril and hold your breath.

Continue to hold your breath while releasing your pinky and placing your thumb and your right nostril.

Step 4:

Continue this pattern of inhales and exhales. 

It may be helpful to say to yourself " Inhale-left, exhale right." until you become comfortable without guidance.

Health Hint: Do not practice if you have a cold or your nasal passages are completely blocked in any way. If this is the case for you, practice using visualization instead of physically blocking nostrils.