Nadi Shodhana

A traditional pranayama practice of breathing alternately through each nostril, usually using the fingers to close one side. It is commonly used to settle the mind and balance arousal. A typical round is to close the right nostril and inhale through the left, then close the left and exhale through the right, and continue alternating. It is practiced slowly and without force, often for five to ten minutes. Studies suggest slow alternate-nostril breathing may lower heart rate and blood pressure slightly, probably mainly because of the slow pace.