Anuloma Viloma

Anuloma Viloma is an Alternate Nostril Breathing Technique. The yoga practitioner is actually inhaling through one nostril, and then he or she has to retain the breath for a few moments and then exhale the air through the other nostril. As a general rule, our left nostril is considered to be the path of the Nadi, called Ida and the right one the path of the Nadi called Pingala. A healthy person is very likely to predominantly breathe through the Ida nostril for approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes, followed by the other nostril.

Unfortunately, due to a series of factors related to precarious health conditions, many people have their breathing rhythm disturbed. In their case Anuloma Viloma restores, equalizes and gradually balances the flow of Prana in their body.

Here are the six steps to be followed when practicing this technique:

* Tuck your index and middle finger into your nostrils, in order to close your nostrils. Your thumb should be placed by your right nostril, while your ring finger and little fingers should be by your left. Now you can start inhaling through the left nostril, closing the right one with the thumb, until you count from one to four.

* Hold your breath, to the count of sixteen.

* Exhale through your right nostril, to the count of eight, while you close your left nostril with the little fingers.

* To the count of four, inhale through the right nostril, keeping the left one closed.

* To the count of sixteen, hold your breath, by closing both nostrils.

* Exhale though the left nostril, to the count of eight, while keeping the right nostril closed.