Swara Yoga for Breathing Exercises
What is Swara Yoga?
In Sanskrit, ‘swara’ means sound or a musical note. ‘Yoga’ means union. Specifically, it refers to union of the physical, mental and emotional to bring about a cosmic consciousness. In Swara Yoga, it refers to the manipulation or control of the flow of breath from each nostril, to bring about a balanced physical and spiritual lifestyle.
The origins of Swara Yoga can be traced back thousands of years. It was earlier only reserved for an elite group of kings and royalty, since it was considered the best way to gain knowledge.
Swara Yoga and breathing: While Pranayama, also incorporates yogic breathing techniques, Swara Yoga is more intricate. While Pranayama exercises are about inhaling, holding and releasing breath through both nostrils, in Swara Yoga, breath is inhaled and released only through one open nostril, while the other nostril is closed.
Types of Swara: There are three types of Swaras, and each is governed by the cycles of the moon.
Benefits and objectives of Swara Yoga:
The practice of this yogic breathing is said to prolong life span and improve overall health. Control over ones breathing is supposed to stimulate one’s intuition and helps to make an individual more powerful by bringing the individual closer to many unseen forces of nature. Practicing Swara Yoga as a breathing exercise, helps us to balance the female and male energies within us, and help lead a balanced spiritual and physical lifestyle. These yogic breathing techniques calm the mind and body, and bring a spiritual peace.
How to practice Swara Yoga:
In Sanskrit, ‘swara’ means sound or a musical note. ‘Yoga’ means union. Specifically, it refers to union of the physical, mental and emotional to bring about a cosmic consciousness. In Swara Yoga, it refers to the manipulation or control of the flow of breath from each nostril, to bring about a balanced physical and spiritual lifestyle.
The origins of Swara Yoga can be traced back thousands of years. It was earlier only reserved for an elite group of kings and royalty, since it was considered the best way to gain knowledge.
Swara Yoga and breathing: While Pranayama, also incorporates yogic breathing techniques, Swara Yoga is more intricate. While Pranayama exercises are about inhaling, holding and releasing breath through both nostrils, in Swara Yoga, breath is inhaled and released only through one open nostril, while the other nostril is closed.
Types of Swara: There are three types of Swaras, and each is governed by the cycles of the moon.
- Left Swara (Ida Nadi), which is characterized as the female energy or the moon, which is virtuous, smooth and auspicious. In the Left Swara, the breath is inhaled from the left nostril. This is placed on the left side of the spinal cord, and is connected to the right hemisphere of the brain.
- Right Swara (Pingala Nadi) is the male energy or sun. This is aggressive and rough. It is advocated that the right time to perform extreme actions such as battles and sensual pleasures is during the Right Swara period, which is the fortnight from the day after a full moon to no moon.
- Third Swara (Sushumna) is said to be located in the center of the spinal cord. It is most active when the mind and body are concentrated in a state of meditation and the Right and Left Swaras flow together.
Benefits and objectives of Swara Yoga:
The practice of this yogic breathing is said to prolong life span and improve overall health. Control over ones breathing is supposed to stimulate one’s intuition and helps to make an individual more powerful by bringing the individual closer to many unseen forces of nature. Practicing Swara Yoga as a breathing exercise, helps us to balance the female and male energies within us, and help lead a balanced spiritual and physical lifestyle. These yogic breathing techniques calm the mind and body, and bring a spiritual peace.
How to practice Swara Yoga:
- Sit down comfortably keeping your back upright. Breathe in and out four times before you start.
- Curl your tongue, inhale through the mouth and exhale through the nostrils.
- Now breathe through each alternate nostril.