Yoga BLOG

Surya Bhedana Pranayama - the sun breathing Surya bhedana pranayama should be performed in the morning, as this yoga exercise makes you alert and energized. It can improve your thinking and reaction time, while also improving your mood and alleviating depression. Thus, with Surya bhedana pranayama, you'll ensure a successful start to the day. What exactly is surya bhedana pranayama? Surya bhedana pranayama is a breathing technique in which you inhale through your right nostril and exhale through your left nostril. This breathing exercise aims to increase solar energy, which is also considered hot energy. Therefore, surya bhedana pranayama is also called solar breathing. If you often have cold hands or feet, you should do this exercise to warm yourself up. It strongly activates solar energy. It is responsible for activity and physical movement. How is surya bhedana pranayama performed? You sit in Siddhasana , Bhadrasana , or Padmasana . Simply choose what is most comfortable for you and close your eyes. Then form the Vishnu Mudra with your hands and close your left nostril with the little finger of your right hand. Now breathe in deeply and slowly through your right nostril and close it with your thumb. Count to two as you inhale. Then hold your breath and practice Jalandhara Bandha, counting to eight. Press your chin against your ribcage. Concentrate on your skull and the top of your head to channel the energy into it and cleanse it. The roots of your hair and fingertips will begin to sweat. You won't achieve this right away. Gradually increase the breath-hold time until it's optimal. Always hold it for as long as is comfortable. To exhale (without bandha), open your left nostril. Exhale through it and count to four. Repeat this exercise in the same form up to five times. What positive effects can you achieve through surya bhedana pranayama? This breathing technique activates the sympathetic nervous system. It can help raise low blood pressure. It warms the muscles and opens the nasal passages, allowing you to breathe through both nostrils. Surya bhedana pranayama can help with sinus problems and contribute to the prevention of hay fever, colds, and bronchial asthma. This yoga practice can also kill intestinal worms, eliminate intestinal diseases, and help with gas in the gastrointestinal tract. It can also provide relief from rheumatism, tension-related headaches and migraines, as well as various types of neuralgia. The breathing technique also has positive effects on the mind. Sun breathing awakens the mind and increases responsiveness. It promotes clear, logical, and analytical thinking. New energy is absorbed and the nerves are strengthened. Surya bhedana pranayama can lift the mood and improve depression. For whom is surya bhedana pranayama not suitable? People who are very nervous, aggressive, or overactive should not practice this breathing technique, as this can exacerbate these tendencies. The same applies to situations in which you are agitated or internally tense due to certain events. In these cases, you should also avoid it. Furthermore, Surya Bhedana Pranayama is not suitable for people suffering from high blood pressure or fever. It will further increase the heat in the body. It is also not recommended during menopause, as hot flashes can increase significantly for the same reason. This technique is also not suitable for diarrhea. Conclusion Surya bhedana pranayama calms the mind and has many other positive effects. Make sure you breathe through your right nostril. Gradually increase the intensity. If you find it easier, you can even do the exercise without kumbhaka, or breath retention, or jalandhara bandha, or throat lock, at the very beginning. Just experiment and see if the breathing technique becomes easier for you. You can then integrate it into the practice over time. Image © dimol / 123rf.com