As yogis we know that our own energy is constantly changing, sometimes we feel that everything is going right and we can feel the flow, and others we feel like we are at the point of boiling to a meltdown. What these feelings really mean is that our own energies are not aligned. These energies that circulate with us are called nadis. There are over 72,000 that flow like water to every cell in our body. The first nadi, the shushumna, is the largest of the three. It wraps around the spine coiling up like a serpent from the base all the way to the crown passing through each chakra on its way, producing kundalini energy. The other two nadis, ida and pingala, spiral around the shushumna nadi crossing each other at every chakra until all meet at the crown chakra. Ida starts on the left side of the spine, bringing in a sense of coolness and controling the more feminine aspects of your thought process. Pingala, which starts on the right side of the shushumna, is said to have more warming and stimulationg quatlities bringing more masculine aspects to your personality. When the flow of energy (prana) gets stuck and things seem out of control, somewher there is a clog in these tow nadis. In order to bring the mind, body, and spirit back into alignmentwith one another the channels need to be cleared. How do we do that? With breath. Alternate nostril breathing can help you to see which nadi is clogged and help restore the flow bringing emotional and physical equilibrium back into your life therefore clearing the way for more spiritual growth. To begin, find a comfy seated postion. Taking the right hand, bend the index and middle fingers in toward the palm. Place the thumb outside the right nostril and place the ring and pinkie fingers on the left. Take an inhaleand then close off the left nostril exhaling our the right and then inhaling. Close off the right nostril and open the left with an exhale out the right. This is one round. Countinue until you feel the breath flow freely through each side of the nostril bringing balance back to your life.
Steph Neff, MOYO Teacher
