Nadi Shodhan Pranayama (Nadi purifying Pranayama) -

Balancing the Ida and Pingala, the mental force and vital force is one of the main objectives of Pranayama. Left nostril (Ida) and right nostril (Pingala) if balanced can awaken Sushumna (the psychic nadi or channel carrying kundalini) nadi. Swami Swatmarama recommends Nadi Shodhan Pranayama, (alternate nostril breathing with Kumbhaka and Bandhas) for purifying Ida Nadi and Pingala Nadi.

Purification of  Nadis

Pranayama is Practice only after purifying Nadis. Nadis can be purified by practicing  ANULOM-VILOM Pranayama. A common learner must begin the practice of Pranayama with Anulomvilom. Being simple in nature, even common people also easily practice Anulomvilom Pranayama. It is a kind of  Nadi Shodhana, or the sweet breath, is simple form of alternate nostril breathing suitable for beginning and advanced students. Nadi means channel and refers to the energy pathways through which prana flows. Shodhana means cleansing -- so Nadi Shodhana means channel cleaning.

Method of Nadi Shodhan Pranayama (Nadi purifying Pranayama):

Sit down in Padmasana or Siddhasana. Close your right nostril with your right hands thumb and inhale through left nostril as long as you can easily inhale. When your lungs are full, close both the nostrils and hold the breath for some time. Then slowly exhale through the right nostril closing the left (use your ring and little finger). Thereafter close your left nostril and inhale through the right nostril and then closing both the nostril holds the breath in your body and ultimately exhale the breath through your left nostril. Thus you finish one cycle (Avartana) of veins purifying Pranayama. Practice three or four Avartanas daily and increase this practice slowly. Once practiced well, practice this Pranayama in the ratio of 1:2:2, That is inhale for four seconds; hold the breath for eight seconds and then exhale the breath in eight seconds. Increase this ratio slowly upto a ratio of 5:20:10.

Benefits of Nadi Shodhan Pranayama (Nadi purifying Pranayama)

It’s an excellent method to perform Pranayama that does away with the lung’s diseases.

Through this Pranayama, the blood gets an increased amount of life giving oxygen that thoroughly cleans and purifies it, calms the mind, soothes anxiety and stress, balances left and right hemispheres, promotes clear thinking . It also purifies the  Arteries and veins, through which the blood flows in the body.

Essential of  Pranayama

KINDS OF PRANAYAMA
Pranayama is Practice only after purifying Nadis

Nadi Shodhan Pranayama

KapalBhati (Glowing of Skull)
 Among the many kinds of Pranayama. i.e. Kumbhaka, eight kinds are considered as main. These are

Surya Bhedan Pranayama,

Ujjayi Pranayama,

Sitkari Pranayama,

Shitali Pranayama,

Bhastrika Pranayama,

Bhramani Pranayama,
Murchha Pranayama and

Plavini Pranayama

Also read from Kundalini Yoga-SRI SWAMI SIVANANDA