Learning to breath consciously and deliberately is one of the first requirements in the yoga practice and meditation. Alternate nostril breathing is a method of breathing that tries to balance the flow of oxygen to the brain, by alternating the nostrils through which you breathe. Read on to learn alternate nostril breathing.
Instructions
1. Place the index and middle fingers of your right hand onto your forehead. Your thumb should hang on the right side of your nose, and your ring and little fingers on the left.
2. With your thumb, pinch closed your right nostril. While counting to eight, take one long, slow, deep breath in through your left nostril.
3. Pinch closed your left nostril with your ring and little finger (so that your nose is now pinched totally shut). Hold your breath for a count of eight.
4. Take your thumb off your right nostril. Breathe out steadily, through the same nostril, while counting to eight.
5. As soon as you finish breathing out, immediately start breathing in again through the same right nostril. Count as before to eight.
6. Pinch your nose completely shut. Hold your breath as you count to eight.
7. Breathe out slowly through your left nostril for a count of eight.
8. Repeat starting with the left nostril.
Tags: left nostril, count eight, right nostril, your left, your left nostril, your nose, your right