The Importance of Breath
By Jo Prakash
“When the breath wanders the mind also is unsteady. But when the breath is calmed the mind too will be still, and the yogi achieves long life. Therefore, one should learn to control the breath”
Svatmarama, Hatha Yoga Pradipika
Breathing is one action we perform (involuntary action) without a moments thought, according to yogic philosophy it is one of the most important actions we can perform and should be done with careful calculation for optimum health.
Nostrils are the tool of breathing as they filter, purify and warm the oxygen as we inhale, the mouth should never be used to breathe.
If you are conscious of your breathing you will notice that your dominance of each nostril changes, a healthy timing of nostril change is 75-90 minutes. You can easily tell which nostril is more active by placing a finger across both nostrils to feel which has the strongest airflow.
One who takes notice of their breathing will also notice a change in pattern according to their emotional and physical turbulence.
This can be explained in relation to the brains left and right hemisphere and its correlation with the breath. Usually only one part of the brain (left or right) is used at a time, research shows that each side of the brain has its unique characteristics and behaviour. As we inhale through one nostril, that same side of the brain is cooled down so the opposite hemisphere of the brain is warmer, so becomes more active and vice versa with the alternative nostril.
The left hemisphere is associated with logics, analysing, and speech and associated with solar, dealing with past and present. Right hemisphere dominance is characterised with imagery, intuition, emotional response, introversion, feminine and lunar energy, dealing with the present and future.
So too are the nostrils characterised, the breath in the right nostril is said to be hot, while the flow from the left is cool. Therefore, symbolically, the right channel is known as Surya "sun” breath, representing physical energy and the body" of the nadis, it represents Pingala. The left channel is referred to as Chandra "moon breath”, of the nadis Ida representing mental energy and the mind.
The energy that flows through the sun breath produces heat in the body; this is catabolic, efferent and acceleratory to the bodily organs. On the contrary, the energy that flows through the moon breath produces coolness in the body; this is anabolic, afferent, and inhibitory to the organs.
When the breath continues to flow through one nostril for more than two hours, it is a symptom of derangement caused by excessive heat or cold. Therefore, if the sun breath is more active, the heat of the body enhances and there can be mental and nervous disturbances. In opposition, when the moon breath is more active, the metabolic activity of the body becomes low, cold and lethargic, and mental activity is suspended.
This energy is very rarely distributed equally and when this does occur major adjustments occur, the individual will be extremely tranquil or highly agitated and disturbed.
Perceptions, actions (voluntary & involuntary) and responses vary according to the dominance of the brain hemisphere.
Of great significance here, is that if one could voluntarily change the dominance of the brain hemisphere at their own will, their consciousness would change to suit, this is when the breath becomes an important role in the discipline of yoga.
The change between hemisphere activities occurs when the breath is controlled with the nostrils. When the right nostril dominates, the left hemisphere of the brain will be active and vice versa. When both nostrils dominate the brains activities will be in unison.
The simple act of changing the brain domination through breath will control and alter body chemicals which, in turn, control the human emotional state.
As yogic philosophy bases diseases on imbalances of the emotional and chemical state, it is believed that the balance which occurs through breath control (pranayama) will prevent diseases occurring.
In the vast majority of individuals, the change of breath from one nostril to another varies tremendously, appropriate to conditions such as unnatural living habits, wrong diet, stress, diseases and lack of proper exercise. All these living habits (associated with a modern, materialistic world) have an effect on the breath, diverting it from its normal flow.
Interestingly yogis concluded that prolonged breathing through the left nostril only (over a period of years) will cause Asthma, this can be treated by teaching the patient to breathe through the right nostril until the asthma is cured and prevent it from recurring by doing the Alternate Nostril Breathing Technique and diabetes is said to be caused, to a large extent, by breathing mainly through the right nostril.
There is an ancient discipline which is based solely on the knowledge of breath control through the nostrils, this is known as Swar Yoga (unification through breath), founders and developers observed the results of body state and consciousness through the role of nostril breath.
Extracted from the book Dhanwantari by Harish Johari
Here are some significant and useful findings from their research
- One does not breathe through both nostrils simultaneously except for very brief periods during the day.
- When one nostril is dominant the other is recessive.
- Breath may be changed from one nostril to the other by lying down on the side of the operating nostril with a pillow placed under the ribcage (to stimulate nerves that play an important role in breath). Change in healthy organisms occurs within three to ten minutes.
- When both nostrils operate equally, body chemistry reaches a state of equilibrium suitable for meditation, chanting or yoga. This state occurs normally at the exact moments of sunrise and sunset (which is why theses times are always recommended to perform yoga) and briefly during the transition from one nostril to the other (which occurs hourly in most individuals).
- The cycle of the breath is directly related to the ascending and descending moon cycles.
- When there is a disturbance in the natural cycle, and the proper nostril does not open, body chemistry becomes disturbed and physiological and psychological disturbances become more likely.
- A quick response to this imbalance can avert ill effects. Simply change the breath by the method outlined above – resorting to a cotton ball “plug” if there is no changeover. Under no circumstance should one breathe through the mouth.
- Changing the breath at the first sign of any physical or mental disturbance prevents worsening of symptoms and promotes rapid recovery.
When we practice yoga it is recommended that the breath is equal in both nostrils meaning both left and right brain hemisphere is working in equilibrium to bring a state of tranquillity to the physical, mental and emotional body.
According to yoga, when a person's breath flows through only one nostril for hours without changing, it is a sign that some illness is at hand. The longer the flow of breath in one nostril, the more serious the illness will be, it even goes so far as to say for a certain pattern predicts death of a person whether it is untimely (a tragic accident) or more expected (old age).
Breath can only be controlled by exhalation (rechaka), inhalation (puraka) and retention (kumbhaka), in fact the kumbhaka (retention) is said to lengthen your life for the time of the retention eg. Retain the breath for a minute; add an extra minute onto your lifespan.
This Alternate Nostril Breathing exercise is mainly for maintaining equilibrium in the mental and physical processes in the body, to balance the energy and bring harmony between body and mind.
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