My Fave Breathing Technique To Feel More Grounded

One of my favourite breathing techniques I love to share in my yoga classes is alternate nostril breathing (Nadi Shodhan).

Many of us don’t think about breathing as a yoga pose, but our breath is the most important tool that we have for change, and in my own experience is the most important part of our yoga practice.

Alternate nostril breathing is a simple, yet powerful technique that settles the mind, body and emotions. It’s the technique I turn to the most when I am feeling a bit all over the place, feeling stressed or just needing a sense of grounding.

Would love for you guys to try this technique and let me know how it left you feeling…

1. Find a comfy seat. Making sure there is length in the spine (crown of your head lifting towards the ceiling, sit bones grounding down into the earth), shoulders are back and heart/chest is open.

2. Relax your left palm comfortably into your lap or on your left knee, take the peace fingers (the first two fingers) of your right hand and place them in the center of your forehead (that space between your eye brows aka your third eye center).

3. Close your right nostril with your thumb. And take a deep inhale through your left nostril slowly and steadily till you fill up your lungs.

4. Close the left nostril down with your ring finger and take an exhale out now through your right nostril.

5. Inhale through the right side slowly.

6. Close the right nostril down and exhale through your left.

7. Repeat 5-10 cycles, allowing your mind to follow and focus on your inhales and exhales.

If you’re moving through the sequence slowly, one cycle should take you about 30-40 seconds. Move through 5-10 cycles until any feelings of stress, anxiety or worry have left your mind.