---

Yoga breathing can be very intimidating and complex if you're just starting out.

But the great thing is that everyone can do simple breathing practices with little or no training that will deliver immediate benefits.

Traditionally, there are different breathing practices for different purposes: some are cooling, some are heating, some are relaxing, some are stimulating.

But 99% of the time, for 99% of people, you'll use breath to a) relax the body, b) cool the body, and c) focus the mind.

So assuming any (or all) of those 3 are your aim, we can accomplish that very effectively, very quickly.

Before We Start

1. Take your index finger and put it underneath your nose like this.
2.  Exhale through your nose quickly a few times.
3. Notice which nostril is more open (more air comes out).

Right Nostril Dominance is associated with the left brain activity and is conducive for active states such as working, eating, exercising, etc.

Left Nostril Dominance is associated with the right brain activity and is conducive for meditative states, relaxation, sleep, and creativity.

How Nostril Preference Works

As your brain activity changes throughout the day, so does your dominant nostril. And simply sticking your finger under your nose is the easiest way to get an instant
read on where your head is at.

When you're super hungry, for example, you'll almost always be in your right nostril.

When you're about to fall asleep, almost always it'll be your left. (and if you're not, you should get there. More on how to do that later.)

Naturally, your body will switch every 90-120 minutes (there's no rule on this). So our breath tells us which side of our brain is most active; and the cool thing is that we can turn around and use the breath, control the breath, to influence our brain.

It really does work.

This is why people get so excited about pranayama, or yoga breathing. It's a very powerful tool for "mind control."

First Breathing Practice

To start, let's better understand our current mental state. Do this "finger-under-the-nose" test through the day today. Do it before every meal, right when you wake up, and right before sleep. You'll likely discover some imbalances right
away.

Take notes for the next 24 hours, and then we'll move on to some new practices.

Stay bendy,

Lucas
.

YOGABODY NATURALS

P.S. Ever wonder why people who sleep on their side always sleep on their right side? I'll tell you why in a future post.

---