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| Namaste! Greetings to all!
The Alternate Nostril Pranayama methods traditionally begin with slow,
even speeded, silent inhalation through the left nostril because the
left side of the body is the 'feminine' and more 'receptive' side. As
such, she
'receives' the first breath of inhalation, and 'gives birth' to the
first breath of exhalation before performing these 'breaths' on the
right side. Additionally, it has been observed since ancient times
that the Supreme Creator, Brahman, established our world and our
Universe with a decidedly 'deosil' or 'leftward' directional
dominance. This feminine side dominance seems to be why many ancient
cultures Personify the Divine as Goddess, the Mother of All That Is!
Every planet revolves on its' axis in a leftward or counterclockwise
direction, and each orbits around the sun similarly. Same is true of
the rotational direction of tornados, hurricanes, and water going
down the drain. Both ancient and modern religious rituals of all
traditions move leftward around the fire or the altar. This is 'God's
Direction'! And so, hatha yoga asanas played to both sides will begin
with the left foot stepping outward to the left, and breathing
exercises using both nostrils will begin with the left nostril. The
Ancient Ones believed that by acknowledging these observations of
God's Will in our practices, we synchronize ourselves with the
Creative Power of the Universe and with the Principles of Nature as
God ordained.
Light and Love to All! Hari Om! Swami Adityananda
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