HOW THE NOSTRILS WORK
As humans, we breathe 24×7 without even noticing it. It is an essential part of body functioning. Breathing is a foremost part of the respiratory system, and nostrils play an essential part. It is the process through which every body cell gets the essential nutrition for life: oxygen, also known as “the food for life”. Similarly, breathing is as important in yoga as in life. Controlling breathing patterns correctly is pranayama’s plan, which refers to life. This deep breathing pattern can improve your lung capacity, healthily increasing each cell’s life. Following a proper pattern, such as inhaling while bending or exhaling while relaxing. Inhaling while sitting, etc, can oxygenate your body.
When we are healthy, both nostrils constantly work simultaneously, but there is a left vs. correct nostril breathing state in mind.
Scientific research has found that one nostril is always more dominant than the other when breathing through the nose. The dominant nostril switches every two and a half hours.
As researched, the right nostril is directly related to the sympathetic part of the brain, the fear and flight response of the body. On the other side, the left nostril breathing is directly related to the parasympathetic part of the brain, the repair and rest mechanism of the body.
Accordingly, breathing through the proper nostril will help one achieve a more energetic state of mind while breathing through the left nostril will make one more relaxed and calm. Today’s lifestyle results in an unbalanced state of mind, which creates more stress and lowers our immunologic defences. There are different basic breathing sets. Pranayamas help regain balance and even allow the Yogi to be in elevated states of being.
See also: 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training
According to Nadi Vedas, when there is not enough heat in the system, as in cold limbs, low blood pressure and depression, breathing through the Right nostril is helpful to stimulate the energy channel from the sun and out through the Left to relax the lunar channel. This pranayama practice is called Suryabhedana. Also, Yogi practised a similar discovery, as they said that our inner energy balance is affected by energy flow along three significant channels: Ida, Pingala and Sushumna Nadis. Ida, or the lunar channel, is the cooling property and has a feminine quality; it terminates in the left nostril. Pin-gala, or solar channel, is heating and has masculine qualities; it terminates at the right nostril. Yoga and nostrils share a weird relationship that can be a hectic task for you, but the fact is that they will be fantastic to feel. Nostrils are connected to various things, and the topmost is breathing. When you inhale while in the meditation pose, the oxygen going into circulation will have a soothing effect on the body.
