What if I told you that you are 3 minutes away from feeling calm and connected? The way we breathe can literally change everything! And it doesn’t need to be anything complicated too. Here is one of my favourite breathing techniques.
Most of us live extremely busy lifestyles – We need tools that will easily be incorporated into our daily routine and actually work. In each blog post here at Yoga For Empaths, I want to share these tools with you – I use them regularly and many of my students have shared how it made a difference to their life.
As empaths, we can also (consciously or unconsciously) pick up SO much from our environment – through people, places, situations etc. We are connected deeply to the energy exchange – And this can often mean that we collect other people’s stuff throughout the day. This can leave many of us with energy baggage. There are many ways to clear it – this is just one way that you might enjoy using.
This simple breathing exercise is something I do anytime I am feeling overwhelmed, stressed, anxious and if I feel I have picked up other people’s energy.
What is left nostril breathing?
Take a moment to observe your breathing pattern now. Ask your Self: Am I breathing mainly through one nostril or both?
One nostril is usually more dominant than the other. The dominant nostril switches every very 90 to 150 minutes. The rhythm itself is mediated mainly through structures in the hypothalamus and pituitary, though other areas in the brain are also involved. The length of each cycle also depends on other factors – such as current state of mental and physical balance.
Exploring the Autonomic Nervous System: The right nostril is directly related to the sympathetic part of the brain, the “âfight or flight” mechanism. On the other side, the left nostril is directly related with the parasympathetic part of the brain, the “rest and repair” mechanism. Both are part of the greater Autonomic Nervous System, responsible for involuntary and reflexive functions in the body.
By breathing through either the Right or Left nostril only, we can access wonderful properties.
5 Ways Left Nostril Breathing can make a difference to you:
In this post, we will focus on Left nostril breathing: This activates the Ida Nerve Ending in the left nostril, which relates to calm and relaxation. It is connected with the moon energy, which is feminine and yin. Here are the main 5 differences it can make in a few minutes…
- Connecting to Apana, the cleansing energy
- Feeling receptive, open and connected
- Calmness
- Empathy
- Sensitivity
Let’s try it now!
Time: 3 Minutes
🌟 How to do Left Nostril Breathing:
Sit in Easy Pose (see above image). Alternatively, there are other positions too: if this seated position feels uncomfortable or you want to try another position during the day, you can easily do this on a chair or with legs extended outwards. Use support (like cushions) if needed. The key thing is to have a straight spine and that you are able to breathe and sit comfortably.
Use your right thumb to gently close your right nostril: Other fingers are stretched straight up. Your left hand can be placed by your side or o your left knee, with gyan mudra. See image below.
Close your eyes and concentration at your 3rd Eye (the point between your eyebrows): Begin to breathe long and deep only through your left nostril. Continue for three minutes.
To end, take a long deep breathe through the left nostril: Hold your breath right at the top for a few seconds and exhale deeply (through the left nostril). Do this 3 times. Then, release your right hand and continue breathing through both nostrils. You may continue in this seated position, breathing deeply through both nostrils if you like (fro as long as you like!) or simply open your eyes to end this breathing exercise and move on with your day.
🌟 Extra tips – Some tips you can use with Left Nostril Breathing:
- Before and after doing this: Observe how you feel before and after. You can rate it from a scale of 1-5 (1 being very stressed and 5 being very calm).
- Allow thoughts and emotions to surface: You don’t need to have a quiet mind. You just need to observe and use your breath to release anything that feels challenging.
- You can use this technique to consciously release stress and emotions from your body: Every time you inhale, fill your body with Self love and give your Self full permission to receive and release tension in your body. As you exhale, feel any old challenging emotions and energy leave your body.
- When you breathe with both nostrils at the end, observe the quality of your breathing pattern: Does it feel much more deeper? Does it flow much more than when you started?
- 3 minutes any time during the day: Use this at any point during the day when you have 3 minutes of free time and need to relax and be calm.
🌟 With practice, you can increase your time duration to suit you:
If you want this to be a longer practice, try increasing the time. As a general rule for meditation, these timings are wonderful to use as a guideline.
- 3 minutes: Affects circulation (blood) and electromagnetic field.
- 11 minutes: Changes glandular system and nerves.
- 22 minutes: Balances and coordinates the three minds.
- 31 minutes: Affects all the cells and rhythms of the body and all layers of the mind’s projection.
Try it and let us know how you feel in the comment section below!
Enjoy your day ~ SAT NAM ❤️
YOGA FOR EMPATHS & HSPs 