“Nature reminds us how to be in harmony with life itself.” – Harold W. Backer
Weekly Focus: Three Nadis: Ida (left) / Pingala (right) / Sushumna (center)
“Nadi is Sanskrit word that can be translated as “tube,” “channel” or “flow.” It refers to the network of channels through which energy travels through the body. The number of nadis that the body is believed to contain varies depending on the tradition, but there are three principal nadis that weave through the spinal cord and the intense energy centers known as chakras.”
Ida nadi is to the left of the body and is the “comfort energy channel,” associated with lunar qualities. Pingala nadi is to the right of the body and is the “tawny energy channel,” associated with solar qualities. Ida is considered passive, pingala is considered active. Sushumna is the “most gracious energy channel” and represents a perfect balance between ida and pingala. It is the balance of these two energies that draws us to our highest consciousness and spiritual awakening. No matter your connection to the energy channels of the body, we can seek the lesson of balance within the nadis.
Shorter days at this time of the year remind us that nature around us is turning to it’s nurturing and restful state — a time to balance the previous activity of summer. How do we follow this rhythm in turn? We cannot be all action and no rest, all deep thought and no outward expression — the balance is important to help us reach our fullest potential. Balance shows up in the way we shift our natures with the season and the pathways of the sun in the sky. How does this need for harmony show up for you at this time of the year?
To help gain balance between the nadis, try this pranayama practice to redirect the prana within the body:
Nadi Shodhana Pranayama
- Come to a comfortable seated position. Begin by bringing a deep awareness to your breath. Feel the breath move in and out of both nostrils.
- Bring the right hand in front of your face. Place the tip of the ring finger lightly to the left nostril, and the thumb lightly to the right nostril. Your two middle fingers may lightly touch the third eye.
- Close your right nostril with the thumb. Inhale into your left nostril. Close your left nostril, open your right, and exhale through the right nostril.
- Now, inhale through the right nostril. Close the right nostril, open the left, and exhale through the left nostril. This is one round.
- Repeat for 2 – 3 minutes. After, take a few breaths in and out with a natural, comfortable pace. Notice how you feel.
- Repeat this practice anytime your energy feels a little uneven and you need to bring more balance to the mind and the emotions.
Passive Pose of the Week: Equal Pose Flow
Open up both sides of the body to find balance in center with this gentle, fluid movement.
- Come to a comfortable cross-legged seat, perhaps sitting up on a cushion or folded blanket.
- Bring your left hand to the ground beside you and your right hand behind the back of the head.
- Lateral bend to your left, and rotate the chest towards the ceiling. By pulling the right elbow back in space, you will find a small rotation in the upper back. Inhale here.
- As you exhale, turn your chest towards your left knee. Your right elbow will follow, but it does not need to touch the knee. Move just enough to find a big twist and stretch behind the back of the body.
- Now inhale, and open up again, and exhale contract. Move back and forth between these two positions, using the breath, 5 – 7 times.
- Repeat on the second side.
Equal Flow is a very vata-pacifying movement. Vata is the energy that is very strong during the fall season. Vata relates to the air — it is sharp, quick, cold and thin. Equal Flow helps you to slow down and ground into the body, balancing out the rapid energy of vata.
Active Pose of the Week: Lolasana (Pendant Pose)
Find yourself hanging in the balance with this core-building posture.
- Come to a kneeling seat. Place two blocks alongside your hips, one on each side of your body.
- Press your hands firmly into the blocks.
- As you push down, lean forward slightly and round the back a bit — similar to a “cat” back.
- Squeeze the legs together and try to lift the knees up into the belly.
- Toes may still touch the ground, or you can squeeze the feet towards your seat to hover.
- Remember to breathe!
We LOVE using blocks in lolasana. It makes this pose much more accessible for many body types. By placing blocks beneath the hands, you lengthen your arms, giving you more space to lift up from the floor. If you have a diificult time lifting the legs, trying binding the legs with a strap. Before you lift off, use a yoga strap to tighten around the thighs and shins, holding everything together, then give it a go!
Join us in class this week to seek balance and harmony! See the full schedule HERE.
