Home Lifestyle 5 minute to INSTANT CALM

5 minute to INSTANT CALM

by Arundhati Baitmangalkar
5 minutes to instant calm

Ever feel like you’re always on the go and there’s never enough calm or time? Is there something that’s always coming up – that needs to get done or someone needs you all the time? If you just answered yes, then this blog is perfect for you. No matter where you are or what you’re up to – this ‘5 minutes to calm’ will help not just slow down your day but also transform it for the better. So let’s get right to it.

Sit straight wherever you are, in a chair or on the floor. All you need is an open chest and an upright spine

Fold the first two fingers to the root of the thumb. We’ll use the thumb and ring fingers to close and open the nasal passages

Pranayama mudra for breathing
How to fold the fingers for alternate nostril breath

Close your eyes (after you finish reading this blogpost 😉 ) Take a few breaths in and out. Start noticing your breath. Slow it down

Close your right nostril with your thumb, breathe in through the left. Let this breath be as slow and as long as you can make it comfortably

How to fold the fingers for alternate nostril breath
Breath in with the left nostril while closing the right with the thumb

Close both nostrils and slow open the right and exhale. Let the exhale be slow and steady. Do as many rounds as you can without straining or forcing the breath in any way

5 minutes to instant calm
Breath in with the left nostril while closing the right with the thumb

After about 3 minutes, slowly get your exhalations to be longer than your inhalations

This is very soothing for the mind.

When you’re done, inhale and let go of your nasal hand grip. Sit for just a few more moments and savor your own breath before letting your eyes come open.

If you have the time and space, even after your eyes are open. Just take a moment to notice your everything around you and then calmly return to the task at hand.

5 minutes to instant calm
Nadi shodhana is a pranayama practice

More about this practice…

In Yoga, this comes from the art of pranayama and is called, Nadi Shodhana or alternate nostril breath. While there is much more to this intricate practice, I hope you’ll use this to get not only calm during your day but also a little more familiar with your breath.

Do your best to carry this sense of calm and silence with you for the rest of the day and use it as your secret weapon as you navigate the day ahead.

Enjoy!

You may also like