Yoga basics & beyond | June 2016

Your H(OM)e Practice

WEEK 1

Meditation: Introduction to Alternate Breathing

This exercise is a pre-cursor to a pranayama technique called Nadi Sodhana. It is a purification technique bringing balance and harmony to the right and the left hemispheres of the brain and the body. Allow yourself time after the breath work to feel the effects of this exercise.

WEEK 2

Meditation: Nadi Sodhana

This pranayama technique called Nadi Sodhana is a cleansing technique. A "nadi" is a tubular organ, like an artery or vein, of the subtle body that prana (energy) passes through. Sodhana means purifying or cleansing. It is a purification technique for the nerves. If the retention of breath brings up anxiety just allow yourself to return to the natural breath, especially since this technique is aimed to calm the nerves. As the practice evolves you can do up to 8 to 10 cycles in one sitting. A cycle of this pranayama technique includes:

a) Inhale through the right nostril;
b) Exhale through the left nostril;
c) Inhale through the left nostril;
d) Exhale through the right nostril