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Here are some variations that will help with specific dosha imbalances within the physiology:
Left Nostril Breathing (Pitta Pranayama): This breathing exercise helps cool the mind and body and is excellent
for Pitta imbalances. If the left nostril is blocked the body often feels overheated (a Pitta imbalance).
Instructions: Block your right nostril with your thumb (fourth finger if left-handed) and inhale gently
through the left nostril. Block your left nostril with your fourth finger (thumb if left-handed) and breathe out
through your right nostril. Repeat for five to ten minutes, finishing by breathing out through your right nostril
Right Nostril Breathing (Kapha Pranayama): Helps warm the body and is excellent for Kapha imbalances. If
the right nostril is blocked the body often feels cold.
Instructions: Block your left nostril with your fourth finger (thumb if left-handed) and inhale gently
through the right nostril. Block your right nostril with your thumb (fourth finger if left-handed) and breathe out
through your left nostril. Repeat for five minutes, finishing by breathing out through your left nostril
Fast Pranayama: This practice speed up metabolism and helps with weight loss. It can also be practiced for 20-
30 seconds before ‘alternate nostril breathing’.
Instructions: Repeatedly exhale quickly and forcefully through both nostrils. You will find that you
naturally inhale after each out breath. Repeat this for about one minute and then rest for one minute. Repeat up
to five times. You m a y find th at the body heats up and begins to perspire slightly indicating that energy is
flowing and circulation is improving.
Hissing Breath: This is good for cleansing and detoxifying the lungs and improving lung capacity.
Instructions: Take two deep abdominal breathes. On the next out-breath, breathe out through your teeth
to make a ‘hissing’ sound. As you do so lean forward so that your head comes towards your knees. At the end
out your out-breath immediately breathe in through your nose quite rapidly as your come up to an upright
position again. Once your lungs are three-quarters full and you are in an upright position hold your breath for as
l o n g a s i s c o m f o r table. Now repeat the process six more times.
Kapalabhati: T h i s i s a l s o good for cleansing and detoxifying the lungs and improving lung capacity.
Instructions: Take two deep abdominal breathes. Now breathe in to three-quarters capacity. On the next out-
breath, breathe out forcefully twenty times by repeatedly contracting the abdominal muscles. Now take two deep
abdominal breathes and on the third, breathe in to three-quarters capacity and retain the breath for thirty seconds.
Repeat this three more times. As you become more accomplished you can increase the number of ‘abdominal
pumpings’ - up to forty and maybe even sixty. You will also find that you will naturally be able to hold the
breath for longer – perhaps even up to two minutes duration.
B e l l y B r eath: This is good for toning the abdomen, improving peristalsis and helping with weight loss.
Instructions: In a standing position bend your knees and rest your hands on the top of the knees -
breathe out fully (hold the breath) and then contract abdomen up into diaphragm/rib cage – hold for as long as is
c o m f o r t a b l e. E xhale. Repeat this exercise several times. Alternatively you can repeatedly contract the abdomen
into diaphragm during the holding of the out-breath.