Pranayama
Chandra Bhedana
Left nostril breath · 5 min
PremiumintermediatePreview — awaiting expert review
Before you begin
- Practise on a light or empty stomach, sitting upright and comfortable.
- Breathe gently; the breath stays smooth and without strain.
- If you feel dizzy, breathless or uneasy, return to natural breathing and rest.
- Skip any holds that feel uncomfortable; the practice works well without them.
- This version has no retention. Classical holds are best learned with a teacher.
- Traditionally avoided in the morning or when you feel low or sluggish.
Please choose a gentler practice, or ask your teacher first, if you have:
- Low blood pressure
- Low mood or heaviness (choose a balancing breath instead)
- Cold, cough or blocked nostrils
- Recent nasal or sinus surgery
Not a substitute for medical advice.
Chandra Bhedana means piercing the moon. You inhale through the left nostril, associated with the cooling lunar channel (Ida nadi), and exhale through the right. The pace is slow and the exhale longer than the inhale. This open version uses no breath retention.
What it supports
- Supports a cool, quiet state of mind
- Helps the evening feel unhurried
- Brings attention to the subtle flow of breath