22/06/2022
Happy Wednesday everyone!
Tonight, we have Stretch and Relax Yoga, where we stretch areas of habitual tension within the body, as well as introducing mudra's (hand gestures) and breathing techniques (pranayama) that you can use day to day to help balance the body and maintain healthy stress levels.
Stress is the cause of all disease! So finding a way to release stress is very important!
Most weeks, we open the class with Alternate Nostril Breathing. It's a type of Pranayama, that aims to balance the right (active, heat, sun) side of the body with the left (passive, cool, moon) side.
You can check which side of the body is most active by closing your eyes and placing your hand under your nose. Exhale gently through your nose onto your hand and you will notice one side is stronger than than other. Our bodies naturally alternate through the day to maintain balance. But obviously, sometimes life can send our natural rhythm off and one side can become more dominant
If you are in a stressful situation you will notice the right side more active, if you are feeling super chill or even sleepy, you'll notice the left.
To practice alternate nostril breathing, come to a comfortable upright seated position. If its uncomfortable to sit upright, pop a cushion under your hip.
Take a moment to connect with your breath.
When you feel ready, take the right hand, and place your ring and middle finger on your third eye centre, and use the thumb and little finger to cover and uncover your nostrils.
Take a long, slow inhale through the right nostril, filling up as much as you can with air. Pause, and then exhale fully. Pause at the bottom of the exhale, and then swap to do the same on the other side.
Repeat for 10 or more breaths, pausing between breaths. The longer you do this pranayama the more balanced you will feel!!
You can also use this technique to heighten one side or the other e.g. if you are mega tired, repeat the inhales and exhales in the right nostril only to promote the "active" side, and vice versa if you're feeling to energetic or stressed and need to relax.
If you'd like to practice this pranayama with me, get in touch and I'll send you the zoom code!
💚