By Atul Vyas
This is a primary practice before doing pranayama or yogic breathing exercises. A word of caution: Please do not do this kriya or practice if one or both if your nostrils are closed or choked due to cold or any other organic defect or over-growth in nasal septum.
The process in this kriya or practice is similar to sneezing or blowing the nose; however this action is done consciously, systematically and in a disciplined manner. This increases the effectiveness of other types of pranayama.
Technique
1. Sit cross-legged or on the chair.
2 Close the right nostril with your thumb and contract the lower abdomen, abdomen and chest and expel the air through the left nostril forcefully. The outgoing air would produce frictional sound.
3. Next, immediately relax the abdomen and chest, and let air come in to the fullest extent through the left nostril. Again, contract the lower abdomen, abdomen and chest, and expel air through the left nostril, and relax the lower abdomen, abdomen and chest immediately when the air will come in passively to the fullest extent through the left nostril. Repeat this procedure five times to start with.
4. Now, repeat the same process with the right nostril by closing the left nostril with the left thumb. Repeat it five times too.
5. Lastly, keep both the palms on the respective knees and expel the air through both nostrils forcefully by contracting the lower abdomen, abdomen and chest followed by relaxing the lower abdomen, abdomen and chest for letting the air come in completely. Do it five times.
Benefits
1 This cleans the breathing passage and trachea and helps in dilation of constricted trachea by phlegm or other impurities.
2. It strengthens the throat region and thyroid glands.
3. It helps in the cure of cough and colds.
4. It also improves digestion.
5. The abdomen becomes fat-free and flexible.
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(Atul Vyas likes to be called a “Yoga Scientist”. He is a celebrity yoga trainer and has trained several top Hollywood and Bollywood stars. He has trained for years under many eminent yoga gurus including his illustrious mother Daya Vyas, the first lady yoga guru of India)
