numbness/tingle

[Guest guest]

Marco:

 

Did you get the left nostril breathing exercise for 20 or 30 minutes from

a teacher, or from a book, or some other source that you trust?

 

I am asking because I have not seen this pranayam recommended for this

long before. So this is where I am coming from in the following comments:

 

1) I am not sure it is recommended to just do left nostril breathing for

extended periods of time over many days without balancing with

right nostril breathing at other times, unless you are trying to correct

an imbalance with your nervous system or your brain hemispheres... What

is your purpose in doing left nostril breathing for so long?

Do you want to develop your creative mind, or balance an over analytical

mind, or overcome a stressfull life? In my experience, Yogi Bhajan

requires left nostril breathing for 3 to 5 minutes, and sometimes it is

inhale left and exhale through the mouth as for awakening the neutral

mind.

2) From what you are saying it sounds like both arms are affected, not

just the arm you are using to block off your right nostril. And now your

body.

3) Left nostril breathing supports the parasympthetic nervous system. It

is helpful when people want to fall asleep. My guess is that the

numbness/tingliness you feel is the experience of having your system so

relaxed so your body "falls asleep". It seems to me the natural result of

what you are doing. And it does not sound like a good place to go.

 

I would recommend that you discontinue unless you are supervised by

someone who knows more than what I am briefly outlining here... or at

least balance it out with some right nostril breathing for the same amount

of time... I am assuming you are going in uncharted territory (uncharted

in the sense that you are not following the timing suggested in a book

that is trustworthy) as I have not seen this pranayam for this long

before... I could be wrong... I'd like a reference if I am wrong.

Personally, when I go into uncharted territory, I feel how my body

responds and then I take that as data to be paid attention to. It's like

doing your own research. So what I suggest is that you balance your breath

and see how that works for you. Or stop doing left nostril breathing and

see if the numbness/tingliness goes away. It should... but who knows how

your body will react...

 

Be careful!

 

Awtar S.

Rochester, NY