CHANDRA BHEDAN

INTRODUCTION AND PROCEDURE :

1. Chandra means the moon; Bhedan means piercing or passing through. The focus is to breathe in through your left nostril and breathe out through your right nostril.
2. The moon is the introspective, passive and skillful aspect of an individual’s personality.
3. This practice can be done in a comfortable sitting position with an upright spinal cord and while pressing the right nostril, breathe in through the left nostril (Chandra Nadi). The exhalation needs to be done through right nostril with your left nostril closed.
4. A person can retain the breath but only in the case of an advanced practitioner. Generally the ratio between inhalation, retention and exhalation is 1:4:2.
5. Another name of this pranayama is left nostril breathing because while doing this pranayama, the breathing is done through the left nostril.

BENEFITS :

1. When the inhalation is done through the left nostril, our body gets cooled, as the left nostril focuses on our Ida (Chandra) Nadi.
2. It reduces the problem of bile and removes the excess heat of the body.
3. It also helps in reduction in flow of gall.
4. It is beneficial in conditions like mental tension, high BP etc.
5. The benefits of this practice are opposite to those of Suryabhedi.
6. This practice helps one to learn whether the right or left nostril is working or not.
7. It helps in curing heart burn and laziness.

PRECAUTIONS :

1. People who suffer from low blood pressure, Asthma, cough and cold should avoid this pranayama.
2. Chandra Bhedna should not be done on the same day as Suryabhedna as they have opposite effects on the body.
3. This pranyama should be practiced only in summers and not in winters.