My loves,
Welcome to Day 4 of our 7 day nervous system reset! We are halfway through this little journey together and I do hope that you’ve found it beneficial so far.
Today’s practice is all about the breath. Now there is SO much that I could say on this subject but I’m going to keep it really brief because the emphasis is on you experiencing, not intellectualising.
There is a reason why prānāyāma has been an integral part of the yogic tradition for thousands of years: because it’s the key way in which we can directly access the nervous system and change our state in the process. The ancient yogis were bio-hacking way before it started trending!
Our focus today is to help bring you back into a state of balance through the practice of alternate nostril breathing (nadi shodhana). This is a practice that should be accessible to most people, providing there are no physiological reasons why you can’t breathe through each nostril. We will work with the ratio of 4:16:8 - inhaling for 4, holding for 16, then exhaling for 8. If for any reason the breath hold activates a feeling of stress or anxiety then please leave it out and focus on an even amount to inhale and exhale.
Any form of breath work has an immediate effect on the nervous system and when we breathe into the belly we directly stimulate the vagus nerve. This particular form of breath work is suitable for everyone regardless of what nervous system state you may be in. Alternate nostril breathing restores a sense of balance in the left and right hemispheres of the brain, eases stress, provokes a sense of calm, improves our ability to focus, supports respiratory health, lowers blood pressure and increases heart rate variability.
I hope you enjoy.
H x
P.S If you’re a paid subscriber there is a special treat for you at the end of the 7 days! Not a paid subscriber yet? You can subscribe here:
The Art of Relaxation
Play this whilst taking a moment to sit and be. Can you watch your breath move in and out of your body without needing to effort in any way? See if you can become the act of breathing, rather than the breather.
Enjoy.
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