Pranayama - Alternate Nostril Breathing

7/29/2019 Pranayama - Alternate Nostril Breathing

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Pranayama--

Alternate Nostril Breathing

Paul Emerson

U. of MN July 8, 2009


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Introduction

Prana vs. breath

Yogic Models of breath

Physiology of alternate nostril breathing Research Studies


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What is an Pranayama?

When that [posture] has been [accomplished],

braking the force and uncontrolled movement of

inhalation and exhalation is termed breath control

and expansion ofprana.

Thereby the veil over the illusion diminishes

and vanishes.

And the mind becomes fit for concentration

The 4th pranayama is that which surpasses the

ones that operate in the external and internal

realms.

That pranayama is is divided into 3 modes--

external, internal and suspension delimited by

locus, duration and count and made long and

subtle.


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Introduction: What is prana?

AVitalistconcept--protophysiological

Physical (respiration) and amorphous (energy)

Chi, Bergsons elan vital, psychophysiologicalenergy, bioenergy

Cognitive/behavioral definition: Prana is theawareness of the instantaneous state of the

physiological potentia--the sense of physicalwell-being (PFE)


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Yoga models (1)

Kosha system (Vedanta System) i) Anamaya kosha

ii) Pranamaya kosha (19 fingers from body)

iii) Manomaya kosha

iv) Vijanamaya kosha

v) Anandamaya kosha


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Yoga models (2)

Five main pranas (Note: differsfrom Vasistha Samhita)

i) Udanaabove larynx

ii) Pranalarynx and heart

iii) Apanabelow navel

iv) Samanabetween heart and

navel v) Vyanadistributed throughout

body

vi) Utility of the prana typology?


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Yoga models (3)

The nadis (3 principal; 14main)

Ida (Left), Pingala (right),Sushumna (central)

Ida and Pingala are associatedwith the nostrils

Seven main chakras(intersection of 3 nadis)


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Yoga models (4)

Purification of the nadis--Hatha YogaPradipika--1350 C.E.

II.19---When the Nadis get purifiedappearance of external signs like slimness ofthe body and lustre is certain.

II.20---By purifying the nadis one is able to

retain the breath with ease; the (gastric) fireis increased; and experience of (internallyaroused) sound and good health aresecured.


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Yoga models (5)

Purification of the nadis--VasisthaSamhita--1250 C.E.

II.67-68--He achieves purification of Nadismarked by the distinct signs--lightness ofbody, brightness, increase in appetite-manifestation of the sound - this is the sign

indicating purification of Nadis.


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Yoga models (6)

Hatha Yoga Pradipika II.16 By proper practice of Pranayama all

diseases are annihilated. Improper practice of

Pranayama (on the other hand) gives rise to allsorts of diseases.

VS gives no such caution, possibly becausepurification of nadis via nadi shodhanatakes

place before pranayama.

In HYP nadi shodhanais taught as a type ofpranayama.


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Yoga models (7)

Goal ofnadi shodhana(aside from thepurification of the nadis) is equinostrilbreathing

This is preparatory for meditation

Does occur during states of excitement

May also occur as a result of asana practice


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Anatomic Overview (1)

Tubes--nasal cavity, trachea,and bronchii

Active organs--i.e. lungs

Other--Muscles of breathing,larynx, control centers.

Colors--white (trachea), pink(lungs)

10 levels of primary bronchiplus secondary and tertiarylevels


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Anatomic Overview (2)

At last level of tree are bronchioles which are not rigid

Left lung is larger; right is smaller due to heart

No direct lung connection (they glide)


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Nasal Pharynx Cavity (1)


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Nasal Pharynx Cavity (2)

Erectile tissue in turbonates (meatuses) likenipples and genitals

Personality change with nasaloperations--Honeymoon nose.

3 normal nasal functions--filtration,humidification and heat

Alternation of air flow

Soft palate collapse in sleep--obstructive sleepapnea (OSA)


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The Nasal Cycle(1)

Termed coined by Kayser 1895

Cycle thought to original in the hypothalamus

(suprachiasmatic nucleus) Correlates with brain hemisphere activity,

REM/nonREM sleep patterns, verbal andcognitive processing

Decreases with age (Mirza, 1997)

Classic alternating cycle incidence is small


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The Nasal Cycle(2)

General synchrony EEG sometimes leads

air flow (subject PC)

Results similar

through variousfrequency bands

D Werntz, R Bickford, F Bloom and D Shannahoff-Khalsa. Alternating cerebral hemispheric activity

and the lateralization of autonomic nervous function. Human Neurobiology. Vol. 2, 1983. pp. 39-43

Note: Contralateral


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The Nasal Cycle(3)P. Flanagan and R. Eccles. Spontaneous Changes of Unilateral Nasal Airflow in Man. A Re-

examination of the Nasal Cycle. Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh) 1997. Vol. 117: 590-595.


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The Nasal Cycle(4)

Mirza et. al. Influence of Age on the Nasal Cycle, Laryngoscope 107: January 1997


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The Nasal Cycle(5)A. Searleman et. al. Nostril Dominance: Differences in Nasal Airflow and preferred

Handedness, Laterality2005; 10(2): 111-120

15 min measurements; 6 hrs; 11 RH and 9 LF subjects


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Implications

By manually changing the natural cycle thephysiological autonomic correlates can bechanged.

Methods of change Uninostril breathing

Alternate nostril breathing

Positional manipulations--(yoga dandas)

Issue: Effect contra- or ipsilateral or nolateralization


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Uninostril Breathing (1)

S Dane, E Caliskan, M Karasen, N Oztasan. Effects of Unilateral Nostril Breathing on

Blood Pressure And Heart Rate in Right-Handed Healthy Subjects. Intern. J. Neuroscience

112: 2002. pp. 97-102

Systolic BP (mm Hg) Diastolic BP (mm Hg) Heart Rate

Rest 125.4 80.1 77.4Exercise 132.9 82.1 86.7

Right UFNB 135.6* 82.8 89.0*

Left UFNB 137.1* 82.6 90.6*

Systolic BP (mm Hg) Diastolic BP (mm Hg) Heart Rate

Rest 121.6 80.5 81.6

Exercise 131.5 83.4 100.5

Right UFNB 132.0 81.8 107.4*

Left UFNB 130.9 82.5 110.7*

Men n = 88; age 18 - 24

Women n = 41 ; age 18 - 24


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D Werntz, R Bickford and D Shannahoff-Khalsa. Selective himispheric stimulation by

unilateral forced nostril breathing. Human Neurobiology. Vol. 6, 1987. Pp. 165-171.

Opposite SideAffected


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P Raghuraj, S Telles.Right uninostril yoga breathing influences ipsilateral

components of middle latency auditory evoked potentials Neuro Science. 2004. 25:

274-280.

14 male volunteers, 18-33 years ofageRight Nostril breathing produced

enhanced amplitude of Na and Nb

parts of evoked potential on the right

sideNo effect noticed with simple breath

awareness

Same side

affected


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Alternate Nostril Breathing (1)

Telles S, Nagarathna R, Nagendra HR.. Breathing through a particular nostril can alter

metabolism and autonomic activities.. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol 1994 Apr;38(2):133-7

Method: 3 groups--right nostril, left nostril, alternate nostril.

Practice 4 times per day for a month--27 respiratory cycles

each time. n = 48.

Results: Increase in oxygen consumption over baseline.Right nostril-37%; Left nostril 24%; Both nostrils 18%


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Naveen KV, Nagarathna R, Nagendra HR, Telles S. Yoga breathing through a particular nostrilincreases spatial memory scores without lateralized effects. Psychol Rep. 1997 Oct;81(2):555-61.

Method: 4 groups--right nostril, left nostril, alternate nostril, breath

awareness, controls. Practice for 10 days. n = 108. Age 10-17. Spatial

and verbal tests before and after.

Results: 4 breathing groups showed increase in spatial scores but not

control.


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Telles S, Raghuraj P, Maharana S, Nagendra H. Immediate effect of 3 breathing

techniques on a letter cancellation task. Percept and Motor Skills, 2007 Vol. 104:

1289-1296.


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Neti (1)

Hypertonic saline preferred

Nostril to nostril easiest

Facilitates nadi shodhana


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Neti(2)

G. Romagnoli et. al. Hypersaline nasal irrigation in children with symptomatic seasonal

allergic rhinitis: A Randomized Study, Ped Aller and Immun: 2003

20 children 6-12 yearsallergic to Parietaria

Nonblinded randomized 3 times daily 5 ml of

3% sterile saline viasyringe in each nostril


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Neti(3)S. Cordray et. al. Comparison of intranasal hypertonic Dead Sea saline spray and

intranasal aqueous triamcinolone spray in seasonal allergic rhinitis , Ent Ear, Noseand Throat Journal: July, 2005

5 hypertonic Dead Sea; 5 steriods; 5 isotonic saline

Tulsa, OK during spring allergy season

Rhinitis QOL questionaire

Delivered via spray rather than irrigation

High in Mg


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Conclusions

Purification of the nadis would seemingly havesome correlation with manipulations of the ANS Lightness of body--metabolic increase (sympathetic

stimulation)

Brightness or body glows--increased cutaneousperfusion

Increase in appetite--parasympathetic stimulation

Manifestation of inner sound ????


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Questions?

Pranayama - Alternate Nostril Breathing

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