As you breathe, the air traveling through the nasal passages stimulates the sensory nerve linings and consequently affects your brain. Involving both nostrils more fully will assist your body in its great balancing act. Use this exercise to increase awareness of imbalanced breathing and bring breathing into balance, as well as to relax and energize your whole system. Short daily practice periods will enable you to make your breathing smooth and balanced.

Directions:

1. Begin by exhaling completely, using both nostrils.
2. Press your thumb or forefinger against the right nostril, closing it completely, then inhale slowly and easily through the left one alone.
3. Hold the inhaled breath for a few comfortable seconds, then close the left nostril and exhale through the right nostril. Hold while comfortable.
4. Inhale through the right nostril, then release your finger from your left nostril, close off the right, and exhale through the left nostril. Hold. Inhale left . . .
5. Continue for five to sixteen cycles, then stop. Allow breathing through both nostrils.

This is a simplified version of an ancient yogic technique.

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