European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Yoga is a group of disciplines which includes physical, mental, and spiritual practices, originated in ancient India and aim to control and calm the mind and body. Pranayama is the yogic practice of focusing on breath. In Sanskrit, prana means "vital life force", and yama means to gain control. In yoga, breath is associated with the prana, thus, pranayama is a means to elevate the prana shakti, or life energies. Pranayama is described in Hindu texts like the Bhagavad Gita and the Yoga Sutras. In ancient literatures 8 different types of pranayam are described out of which nadi shuddhi or nadi shodhan pranayama is one. Anuloma Viloma is known as the level 3 of nadi shodhana pranayama.  Nadi Shuddhi pranayama aasana is closing the right nostril with the right hand’s thumb, inhaling fresh air through the left nostril (puraka) and holding the breath for some time (kumbhaka), followed by exhalation through right nostril (rechaka) while closing the left nostril with the right hand’s index finger and then reversing the process. This is one complete cycle of Nadishuddi pranayama. Pulse rate and reaction times were examined and recorded before and after twelve cycles of Nadi Shuddhi  pranayam. The pulse rate dropped from80.9±6.4 to 71.6±8.1. Reaction time dropped from 0.44± 0.13 seconds to 0.39 ± 0.07 seconds .The changes are statistically significant at p< 0.001. The subjects were very comfortable to this aasana. They felt deep mental peace and were calmer. Alternate nostril breathing is a process of continuous deep inhalation, holding the breath and exhalation. Every cycle of pranayama gives an increased supply of oxygen through the lungs and this oxygen oxidizes the waste products like carbon dioxide, in the venous blood. During exhalation, large expulsion of CO2 from the lungs enhances this process of purification. As a result very little waste material of the body tissue remains in the blood. After 2 or 3 cycles a large proportion of impurities is cleared and there is less need for the breath, as purification process in the lungs for the purification of blood slows down. Many organs of body are given maximum rest including lungs and heart.