Nadis
In everyday life one of the nadis, Ida or pingala is always more dominant. The way to check which nadi is more dominant, i.e. is clearer is to breathe through each individual nostril. So you can either do a few rounds of anuloma viloma or you can close the right nostril with your thumb (Vishnu Mudra) and inhale and exhale out of the left nostril a couple of times, then close the left nostril with your ring finger and inhale and exhale out of the right nostril a couple of times. You will notice which nostril is clearer or less blocked and this is the one that is more dominant at this time. Although they alternate throughout the day, one nadi tends too be more dominant more often and for longer periods of time. This shows in your personality, behaviour and health issues so you are maybe more ida-like or pingala-like. You may like to do a few rounds throughout the day say every 3 hours to see if the nadis have changed.
Which type are you?
Ida-like people have more nurturing qualities, are quiet and introspective, yet may lack the enthusiasm to sustain a strong regular yoga practise. They are full of potential however unless they develop their pingala side they may never manifest this potential.
Pingala-like people are lively, with lots of creativity and abdundant vitality, however they need to develop their ida side to have introspection, stillness and the receptivity to manifest the grace of spiritual awakening with yoga.
Creating the balance
Hatha Yoga creates balance. "Ha" of Hatha means sun which is pingala and "tha" of Hatha means moon which is ida. So balancing the sun and moon or pingala and ida is the aim of Hatha Yoga to awaken the Sushumna. So the most powerful method of balancing these two nadis is Anuloma Viloma as you control the prana through the breath in each nostril as you breathe in anuloma viloma using each nostril, therefore balancing the respective nadi either ida or pingala. This is why we do anuloma viloma to create a balance in the prana within the body.
You may also want to experiment with your own practice to help balance the nadis through the asanas you practice. So at the start of your practice do a few rounds of anuloma viloma to observe which nadi is more clear if ida is dominant you can try invigorating asanas like backbends, standing poses and inversion to engage pingala. If pingala is dominant the calming seated asanas like seated postures or forward bends to engage the calmness of ida nadi. You can observe which asanas activate one nadi or the other. Also if you are doing a yoga practice with a lot of forward bends which takes you inwards, it would be a good idea to do some anuloma viloma afterwards to balance the nadis again so you don’t feel so spaced out.
Also observe your mind – agitated and active is pingala-like or calm and receptive is ida-like. When you start to observe the breath and the nadi the intimate link between the body and mind naturally flows. Through this practice you develop your awareness, deepening your practice as you observe and clearing the way for your spiritual growth.
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