Breathing well to be happy: what does it mean if you do it more through the right or left nostril?
In addition to being vital for life, breathing is a powerful tool for our health
People who breathe better on the right side activate stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system, associated with states of alertness
Breathing better through the left nostril is scientifically associated with stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system, linked to states of relaxation and well-being
Breathing is not only vital to life, but a powerful tool for our health. But, to enjoy all its advantages, you have to know how to breathe, something that is not easy. In fact, we humans are the ones who worse we breathe of the animal kingdom. The best breathing is through the nose, since it is the organ designed to filter the air that enters our body. In addition, as he explains in his Instagram post @biomecanicamartinez, it offers other equally important benefits.
breathe to change
From the inhalation and exhalation of air we can change behavior patterns, moods and affect the heart rate. In addition to breathing through the nose, if we do alternate breathing, first through one nostril and then through another, the benefits are multiplied.
The alternate breathing through the nostrils has a long history. In yoga it is known as pranayama and is used to reduce anxiety, stress and depression. It relaxes us and achieves a long-cherished goal: aligning mind and body.
As practiced?
The alternate breathing technique is based on slowing down the air we inhale and exhale. In it, each nostril is closed to direct the breath to one side of the body. How much more slow and deep be that breath, the more we will relax.
According to Ayurveda or traditional Indian medicine, nasal breathing stimulates the main energy channels and to activate them you have to put into practice a very simple technique. First, we take a deep breath, inhaling for four seconds and exhaling for another four. A complete cycle in alternate breathing it would be the following:
- Plug the right nostril with your hand.
- Inhale deeply through the left nostril.
- Hold the breath and release the thumb, plugging the left nostril.
- Exhale through the right nostril.
- Inhale through the right.
- Hold the air and plug the right nostril with your thumb.
- Exhale through the left.
Which nostril do you breathe better?
Breathe Better or worse for a nostril is already a wellness indicator. Science has already confirmed that people who breathe better on the right side activate stimulation of the sympathetic Nervous System, while breathing better through the left nostril is scientifically associated with stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system.
The sympathetic system is associated with alert states, with increased heart rate and the body prepared for fight or flight. In contrast, the parasympathetic system is linked to states of relaxation and well-being, essential also for the repair of the immune system. When you breathe well on both sides, both systems are balanced.
Benefits
Alternate nostril breathing has been shown to have beneficial effects What:
- Regulation of cardiovascular activity. It has a positive effect on cardiovascular diseases and anxiety.
- Chronic stress.
- Weightloss. During the slow, controlled exhalation of alternate breathing, the rate of elimination of the fatty by-product is increased. Alternate nostril breathing does not directly affect fat loss, but it does activate its mechanisms.
- Increase memory. The increase in airflow through the right nostril increases the activity of the hypothalamus (autonomous regulation center) and makes us have more memory capacity and more intellectual performance.
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