Left nostril / right nostril breathing is incredibly powerful at calming and balancing your nervous system; a practice I use EVERY day.
When Done before bedtime for about 10 minutes, it helps to reduce snoring and improve sleep.
You’ll see from the photo that my fingers are in a slightly odd looking position. This is the Vishnu Mudra. Yoga nerds like me know this as the Vishnu mudra; a sacred hand gesture or "seal," used during yoga and meditation practice as a means of channeling the flow of vital life force energy called prana. Otherwise known as the "gesture of universal balance," this mudra is named in honor of Lord Vishnu, one of the principal deities of Hinduism.
To practice Vishnu mudra, the index and middle finger are curled in toward the palm, whilst the other three fingers remain extended. Vishnu mudra is always practiced with the right hand, symbolic of receiving energy.
When using this mudra to perform nadi shodhana (left nostril / right nostril breathing) the thumb and the ring finger are used to gently block alternate nostrils as the practitioner moves the breath from left to right.
For maximum benefit, Vishnu mudra should be practiced alongside nadi shodhana for a minimum of 5 to 10 minutes daily, ideally prior to meditation. It can be performed at any time of day, and is best practiced on an empty stomach.
Because this practice is very powerful at calming and balancing the nervous system, I find this practice immensely beneficial first thing in the morning and before I sleep. In other words, great for controlling and managing your #stress or #anxiety.
Get in touch if you'd like to attend my breath coaching course.