Addendum A to Chapter 9: The Breath of Life
The Yogic Science of the Nasal Cycle, Alternate Nostril Breathing, and Its Relationship to Shivambu Practice
Breathing is often viewed as a simple mechanical process. Air enters the lungs, oxygen is absorbed, carbon dioxide is expelled, and the cycle repeats. Yet the deeper one investigates the ancient yogic traditions and emerging modern research, the more apparent it becomes that breathing is far more than a method of gas exchange. It is a regulatory system that influences the nervous system, mental state, sleep quality, cognition, energy levels, and the body's overall state of balance.
One of the most fascinating discoveries in both ancient yoga and modern physiology is that human beings do not breathe equally through both nostrils at all times. Rather, the body naturally alternates dominance between the nostrils in a repeating cycle throughout the day and night. This phenomenon is known as the nasal cycle. Ancient yogis identified this process thousands of years ago and built entire breathing systems around it. Modern research has increasingly confirmed many of their observations.
For practitioners of Shivambu and urine therapy, understanding this breathing system provides another valuable tool for supporting balance, relaxation, fasting, detoxification, meditation, and overall self-regulation.
The yogic tradition recognized that the two nostrils are not identical in function. They are associated with distinct energetic qualities and different physiological states. The left nostril was associated with Ida, sometimes called the lunar channel. It was connected with cooling, rest, recovery, introspection, and contemplation. The right nostril was associated with Pingala, the solar channel. It was linked with heat, activity, stimulation, movement, and outward-directed action. When both nostrils flowed equally, yogic texts described a third state known as Sushumna, representing balance and equilibrium. This balanced state was considered particularly favorable for meditation and higher awareness.
For thousands of years these concepts were considered purely spiritual teachings. Yet modern investigations have revealed something remarkable. Research examining nasal dominance found that breathing through one nostril appears to correlate with different patterns of brain activity and nervous system function. Studies suggest that right nostril dominance is associated with greater activity in the left hemisphere of the brain, while left nostril dominance corresponds with greater activity in the right hemisphere.
This relationship extends beyond simple brain measurements. Researchers observed that cognitive performance varied according to nostril dominance. Subjects reportedly performed better on verbal and analytical tasks when the right nostril was dominant and better on spatial and creative tasks when the left nostril was dominant.
Whether one accepts every interpretation or not, the implications are intriguing. Ancient yogis claimed that breathing influenced mental states. Modern research suggests there may indeed be measurable physiological changes accompanying shifts in nostril dominance.
The practical application of this knowledge is found in a breathing practice known as Anulom Vilom, often called alternate nostril breathing. This technique was developed specifically to influence and regulate the natural nasal cycle. Rather than allowing the body to alternate nostrils unconsciously, the practitioner deliberately controls the airflow, encouraging balance between the two channels.
The method is simple enough for beginners.
Sit comfortably with the spine upright and relaxed. The shoulders remain loose and the breathing remains gentle. Using the right hand, lightly close the right nostril with the thumb. Inhale slowly through the left nostril. After the inhalation is complete, close the left nostril with the ring finger and release the right nostril. Exhale through the right side. Then inhale through the right nostril. Close the right nostril and exhale through the left.
This completes one full cycle.
The process is then repeated for several minutes while maintaining calm, smooth breathing. No force is used. The objective is balance rather than intensity.
From a traditional yogic perspective, this technique balances Ida and Pingala, helping to create a state of equilibrium within the body and mind. From a physiological perspective, it may help regulate the autonomic nervous system and encourage transitions between states of activation and relaxation.
The scientific findings suggesting that forced right nostril breathing tends to increase sympathetic nervous system activity, while forced left nostril breathing appears to encourage parasympathetic activity. The sympathetic system is commonly associated with action, alertness, and mobilization, while the parasympathetic system is associated with relaxation, recovery, digestion, and rest.
This understanding provides practical applications.
If an individual is preparing for physical work, exercise, or a mentally demanding task, a brief period of right nostril breathing may help promote alertness and focus. Conversely, if a person is preparing for sleep, meditation, or recovery, emphasizing the left nostril may encourage calmness and relaxation. Yogic traditions taught these principles long before modern instruments were available to measure physiological changes.
For practitioners of urine therapy, this becomes particularly relevant during fasting and cleansing periods.
Many Shivambu practitioners incorporate fasting as part of their protocol. During fasting, the body undergoes numerous adjustments. Energy levels fluctuate. Emotional states may shift. Sleep patterns can change. Digestive activity decreases while internal repair processes become more prominent.
Breathing techniques can help support these transitions.
Alternate nostril breathing may provide a simple method of encouraging balance during fasting periods. If restlessness or anxiety emerges, focusing on left nostril breathing may promote calm. If lethargy or mental fog develops, short periods of right nostril breathing may help increase alertness. In this way, breathing becomes another tool for self-observation and self-regulation.
The relationship between breathing and meditation is equally important.
Many practitioners report that urine therapy increases self-awareness and encourages greater attention to internal states. Yogic traditions regarded balanced nostril flow as the ideal condition for meditation because the mind was believed to become more stable and less reactive. The state associated with equal airflow through both nostrils, known as Sushumna, was viewed as a gateway to deeper concentration and insight.
Although modern science may describe this process differently, the practical observation remains the same. Balanced breathing often coincides with a quieter mind.
Another interesting aspect of the nasal cycle involves sleep.
The left nostril dominance is associated with easier sleep onset and increased parasympathetic activity. It further explains that body position can influence nostril dominance. Lying on the right side often encourages the left nostril to open more fully, potentially supporting relaxation and sleep. Conversely, lying on the left side may encourage right nostril dominance and a more activated state.
For individuals engaging in urine therapy and fasting protocols, quality sleep is essential. Detoxification, recovery, and adaptation all rely upon restorative rest. Simple breathing techniques before bed may therefore become a valuable addition to the overall practice.
Perhaps the greatest lesson contained within these teachings is that the body possesses regulatory systems operating continuously beneath conscious awareness. The nasal cycle functions automatically throughout life, shifting from one nostril to the other over periods that typically range from two to six hours. Most individuals remain completely unaware of this process despite experiencing it every day.
The yogic traditions encouraged practitioners to become aware of these hidden rhythms. By observing which nostril is dominant, a person develops greater awareness of internal states. By learning to influence the breath, the practitioner gains a modest degree of influence over those states.
This principle aligns closely with the philosophy underlying Shivambu practice.
Urine therapy, fasting, meditation, and breathwork all share a common foundation. They encourage individuals to observe the body directly rather than ignoring its signals. They promote participation rather than passive dependence. They cultivate awareness of systems that are already functioning within us.
Breath is one of the most immediate of those systems.
Unlike many biological processes, breathing exists at the boundary between the conscious and unconscious mind. It occurs automatically, yet can also be directed voluntarily. This unique characteristic allows it to serve as a bridge between physiology and awareness.
When combined with fasting, meditation, nutritional discipline, and Shivambu practice, conscious breathing becomes more than a relaxation technique. It becomes a means of cultivating balance.
The ancient yogis understood that the breath influences the body, the emotions, and the mind. Modern research continues to uncover physiological mechanisms that may explain some of these observations. Whether approached through the language of Ida and Pingala or through discussions of autonomic nervous system regulation, the practical lesson remains unchanged.
Observe the breath.
Observe the nostrils.
Observe the state of the body and mind.
Then learn to work with these rhythms rather than against them.
In doing so, the practitioner gains access to one of the simplest and most powerful tools available for supporting health, awareness, recovery, and personal transformation. Through the breath, the body continually offers a pathway toward balance. The wisdom of both yoga and Shivambu practice lies in learning how to recognize it and use it consciously.