I’ve been searching my books and searching the internet. I’ve always learned to start and end with the left nostril when doing alternate nostril breathing, but I have no idea why this is so.
What I do know is left is moon/ida. Right is sun/pingala. Does this have anything to do with it?
Hello! Nice to be in this forum.
Silence will not deter me.
Anyone? Anyone out there know why we start and end with the left nostril when alternate nostril breathing? (Though I’ve noticed Iyengar style might not be the same…not sure).
This is just a guess: Supposedly, Ida nadii, the one linked to the left nostril, is a more “subtle” energy, and that is the one that you want to promote when you meditate. So if you both start and end on it, you give it emphasis. If someone has a better explanation, please, go ahead.
Hm, interesting.
Thanks, Mahalingam.
Namaste! Greetings to all!
The Alternate Nostril Pranayama methods traditionally begin with slow, even speeded, silent inhalation through the left nostril because the left side of the body is the ‘feminine’ and more ‘receptive’ side. As such, she
’receives’ the first breath of inhalation, and ‘gives birth’ to the first breath of exhalation before performing these ‘breaths’ on the right side. Additionally, it has been observed since ancient times that the Supreme Creator, Brahman, established our world and our Universe with a decidedly ‘deosil’ or ‘leftward’ directional dominance. This feminine side dominance seems to be why many ancient cultures Personify the Divine as Goddess, the Mother of All That Is!
Every planet revolves on its’ axis in a leftward or counterclockwise direction, and each orbits around the sun similarly. Same is true of the rotational direction of tornados, hurricanes, and water going down the drain. Both ancient and modern religious rituals of all traditions move leftward around the fire or the altar. This is ‘God’s Direction’! And so, hatha yoga asanas played to both sides will begin with the left foot stepping outward to the left, and breathing exercises using both nostrils will begin with the left nostril. The Ancient Ones believed that by acknowledging these observations of God’s Will in our practices, we synchronize ourselves with the Creative Power of the Universe and with the Principles of Nature as God ordained.
Light and Love to All! Hari Om! Swami Adityananda
Thank you very muchly, Swami Adityananda!
I have a new question based on your answer. In taoist yoga or tai chi dan tien circling the men often circle in a direction opposite to women because of the yin yang way of energy flow being different in the male and female body… If that makes sense.
Might the left right be the same with men and women in yoga? The reason I ask is I have a complete aversion (as does another woman I know) to beginning sun salutations with my left foot. Though, strangely, I don’t mind doing alternate nostril breathing with my left nostril as the start and end point.
Curiosity…
Namaste! Good morning, Questor!
The Taoist methods observe the fact that most humans, both male and female, are stronger on the Right Side of the body because the Yang energy naturally moves from left to right, making the right side the active and dominant side. Thus, most people are ‘right handed’. It is even considered ‘unnatural’ in India and the Orient to be ‘left handed’ as this seems contrary to Nature in those cultures traditionally. Yin energy conversely tends to move from right to left, making the Left Side of the body the more receptive, more passive, and weaker side for most folks.
As such, men normally are more Yang than Yin energetically and physically, and are therefore instructed to massage their abdomen 36 times to the right, followed by 24 times to the left. Women are observed normally to be more Yin than Yang, and are therefore instructed to massage their abdomen 36 times to the left, followed by 24 times to the right. In this way, both sexes are able to balance and harmonize the prevailing and dominant energy of their respective constitutions. And like the yogic exercises, all Tai-chi-chuan, Internal Soft Style Kung-fu, and Chi-kung routines begin with a leftward step and/or movement for the same reasons. I see the Internal Arts of both India and China as different in ‘external’ form, but of ‘kindred spirit’ in their ‘internal’ form, so to speak. Modifications of or variations on the same agenda priorities in terms of health and energy dynamics. Both Systems make the same claims for Health, Healing, Life Extension, and Spiritual Self Cultivation! Both have produced Top Level Masters whose Internal Powers are more similar than different. The Yoga exponents tend to apply their training to Health and Spiritual agendas, while the Chinese Masters tend to apply their training to ‘scientific boxing’ agendas, with Health and Spiritual agendas viewed as valuable auxilliary by-products of the training.
Lastly, perhaps your complete avesion to beginning the ‘Sun Salutation’ or ‘Surya Namaskar’ on the left side stems from feeling weaker or less flexible on the left side in so far as the demands of the pose necessitate. If this is the case for you, such impediments are easily resolved by performing more repetitions of the challenging asana on that side, and holding the final position of the pose for a longer time than usual while breathing more slowly and deeply, and relaxing into the asana as much as possible for increased strength and flexibility both. Hope this has been of some small assistance to you!
Light and Love! Hari Om! Aditya
Thank you again, Swami Adityananda!
Your answers are most gracious and in depth. You’ve given me much to think about. That is for sure.
I’ve ended up moving towards in-depth study of the tai chi and chi kung system, but seem, lately, to be drawn back to yoga. I learned in the Sivananda system a number of years ago.
Very nice to make your acquaintance.