Alternate nostril breathing (Nadi shodhan): - Importance and effects

Abstract

The breathing exercise plays an important role in yoga sciences. The alternate nostril breathing is a preparation practice before the pranayama. To maintain the inhalation and exhalation ratio, various methods are mentioned by the practitioners. This practice is also called as nadi shuddhi or anulom vilom. Some questions may here be raised that how alternate nostril breathing is different from pranayam? How the subtle channels gets purified? How the breathing technique effects the pranamaya and the annamaya koshas? This paper attempts to study ANB, its effect on sympathetic and parasympathetic system physiologically.