Alternate Nostril Breathing Promotes Breath Awareness

Alternate nostril breathing is a method used in many hatha yoga classes to promote awareness of the breath. Some yoga instructors will guide students through several rounds of alternate nostril breathing at the start of a class and others may introduce a few rounds later in the class.

You can practice alternate nostril breathing easily at home, and you don’t even need to change your clothes or unroll your yoga mat. Here’s how to do it: If you are new to alternate nostril breathing, start by placing your index finger over one nostril to hold it closed. Inhale through the open nostril, but before you exhale, move your finger to close the nostril through which you inhaled, and exhale through the opposite one.