Is it possible to achieve peace of mind or inner peace in short time span? Can meditation alone be an answer to today’s anxiety and stress filled lifestyle? How to sync yourself with the universal rhythm of nature? Well, the answer to all of the above lies in your breathing. According to Yoga Kundalyupanishad, the breathing process creates images in the mind. If we can control the breathing process itself, the mind will be calm, and no images will be able to shatter the peace of your soul. Did you know that on an average, a normal human being has 50,000 to 70,000 thoughts per day? Imagine your mind as a computer, opened with multiple browsers at the same time. What would happen if you continue to use it? Crash, right? Well, calming your breath helps to stop this internal chattering and multiple programming to help you lead a calm, joyful and blissful life.
The roots of stress, anxiety, and depression often reflect through your breathing pattern and the ancient yogic approach to modulate your breathing pattern is known as “Swar Yog”.
The Sanskrit word swar is often considered as sound or note. However, swar has a broader meaning that includes a particular pattern of events occurring repeatedly. Swara Yoga, the science of breath, deals with the interaction between cosmic rhythm and individual pranic patterns in each person. Different rhythms create specific physical, mental, and emotional patterns and alter the state of consciousness at all levels i.e conscious, subconscious and unconscious, which are experienced in daily life. This ancient practice is studied in relation to the time of day, the position of the moon, sun, planets, seasons, and the stages of five basic elements with the physical, mental and emotional states of the practising individual.
By doing meditation as per the guidelines of this ancient practice, you will be able to deepen your state of meditation with minimal amount of time and attain inner peace.
It is recommended to meditate during the activation of Sushumna swar i.e. when air flowing through both the nostrils. By meditating during this active flow, one can easily overcome the disruptive thoughts going around in one’s mind.
Practise of pranayam and yog asanas will lead to the activation of surya naadi (right nostril), which helps in quickly energising the body with minimal exhaustion.
While meditating, chanting mantras upon activation of chandra swar helps one calm one’s mind and achieve better concentration.
Identifying different phases of the moon and checking your dominant nostril before getting out of bed in the morning and letting the corresponding foot be the first to touch the floor, are simple practices that can help you align the subtle flow of energy which ensures success in your work
It is recommended to drink water in case of hypertension upon activation of chandra naadi, as it will help in revitalising your body quickly
The writer is a noted Swar Yog expert with over 30 years of experience.
