PRANAYAMA                                                PRANAY10.TXT
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      Pranayama (literally control of breath or prana) may be performed as
      a stand alone practice.It has innumerable forms all based on the concept
      of prana which is both oxygen and a more subtle energy simultaneously
      tapped through pranayama practice. 

      The practice of pranayama also is used in preparation for meditation, as
      it has the effect of quieting and clearing the mind, and awakening the
      subtle and spiritual energies. Of course, few if any of these claims can
      be scientifically proven other than through the personal endeavors and
      experiences of the practitioner. As the adage states, "the proof of the
      pudding is in the eating".

      One of the most common and beneficial pranayama practices is the
      alternating breath. This is especially beneficial before meditation to
      calm the mind, or when having trouble failing asleep at night. It works
      on the principle that the right and left nostrils correspond to the
      right and left hemispheres of the brain, as well as to the channels of
      the spine (ida, pingala, and shushumna) mentioned earlier. There is a
      whole system known as swar yoga, which is based on this principle, and
      allows people to perform all daily functions at the time of maximum
      potential, depending on which nostril (and therefore brain hemisphere)
      is predominating.

      The method for alternating breath is as follows. First, with your right
      hand you should place your thumb on the right side of your nose, and
      either the index or middle finger on the left side of the nose. Close
      the left nostril with whichever finger you are using and inhale through
      the right nostril. Hold the inhaled breath by plugging the right
      nostril, and then open the left nostril and exhale through it. Now
      reverse the process and inhale through the already opened left nostril,
      plug and hold, and open the right nostril and exhale through it. This is
      considered one "round", and you should do ten rounds at one sitting.