pranayaam - blocked nose problem

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

I am just beginning Anulom Vilom / Alternate Breathing pranayaam but I find

that most times my left nostril is partially blocked and sometimes my right

nostril.

 

I've read conflicting views on this. Some say that the air flow has to be

smooth and there has to be no " effort " and not to do the pranayam if the

nose is in anyway blocked. Others say this is normal and to keep doing it.

 

Do any of the experts on this list have anything to say about it?

 

thanks,

Ashwin

[Guest guest]

Hi Ashwin,

 

I don't consider myself an expert but perhaps I can help.

 

There are two ways of doing alternate nostril breath - with or without

closing the nostrils with your fingers.

 

In the one without fingers, which is often called Anuloma Viloma, you

imagine the breath entering through one nostril, then exiting through

the other, etc. You can imagine the flow regardless of whether the

nostril is blocked or not. I believe this would still have an effect on

activating the alternate brain hemispheres, as well as on the prana

nadis (channels).

 

So in this method, while inhaling you imagine the stream of breath

entering through the nostril (e.g. left nostril) and going up to the

opposite (right) side of the head. Then shift to the other (left) side

of the head and, while exhaling, imagine the stream moving from there

out through the opposite (right) nostril. Don't worry about which

nostril the breath physically goes through.

 

A recommended counting method is:

 

1. In left nostril, out right nostril

2. In right nostril, out left nostril

3. In left nostril, out right nostrilI

4. In right nostril, out left nostril

5. In both nostrils, out both nostrils

6. Keep repeating 1-5

 

The alternative way, blocking with the fingers, will only cause

discomfort if your passage is blocked anyway.

 

Try doing jala neti before breathing, pouring some warm salty water

through the nostrils, then blowing dry.

 

If you find the blockage is cyclical, put your hand under the armpit

opposite the blocked side, and apply pressure for a few minutes. This

may help release the passage.

 

Best regards,

Gerald

www.ScienceOfLife.co.nz <http://scienceoflife.co.nz>

 

________

 

 

I am just beginning Anulom Vilom / Alternate Breathing pranayaam but

I find

that most times my left nostril is partially blocked and sometimes my

right

nostril.

[Guest guest]

My teacher told us many times that the breath is more dominant on one side for 2

and a half hours and then switches to the other side for 2 and a half hours and

continues this exchange. If it is physically blocked then use a neti pot or

someone who knows better can suggest a certain nasya oil. One thing you can do

is lay on one side with the clogged nostil higher than the other. The body will

just let gravity open up the higher one. Also, this is the best way to go to

sleep at night other than sleeping on your back in corpse pose. Sleep on the

right side so the left (moon side) nostril will be higher.

 

GB

 

_______________

 

I am just beginning Anulom Vilom / Alternate Breathing pranayaam but I find

that most times my left nostril is partially blocked and sometimes my right

nostril.

[Guest guest]

I think you should keep doing it. You can use different pranayams like

alternate nostril breathing. You can inhale left, exhale right, inhale right,

exhale left, exhale right, etc. This balances the nadis.

 

GB

____________

 

I am just beginning Anulom Vilom / Alternate Breathing pranayaam but I find

that most times my left nostril is partially blocked and sometimes my right

nostril.