Alternate Nostril Breathing and OM

Reading from Tuesday, September 10, 2013 yoga class

"Air alternately enters the nose through the left and right nostrils during the course of the day.  Blood shifts from one nostril to the other every ninety minutes or so, causing one nostril to open and the other to become more congested.  Scientific studies show that when the left nostril is open the right hemisphere of the brain is more dominant, activating the more creative, feeling side of the mind.  When the right nostril is open the left hemisphere of the brain is dominant, facilitating more analytical, rational, and intellectual mind activity. Alternate nostril breathing or nadi shodhanam is a practice which deliberately changes the flow of air through the nostrils.  When the right nostril is open, surya, or sun/heating element of the breath is dominant.  When the left nostril is open, the chandra, or moon/cooling element is dominant."

"Eric spent many years living as a monk in a Zen monastery.  In his first year he underwent a tremendously painful and emotional time.  Completely overwhelmed by the intensity of his feelings he sought out the guidance of the head abbot.  As he sat before the abbot he explained his dilemma and with great hope waited for the abbot to advise him as to how he might alleviate his suffering.  The abbot answered simply "If you can breathe in...you can breathe out."

                 From the book "The Breathing Book" by Donna Farhi

Came across this in my stash of stuff on OM.  We have been talking a lot in class about rhythm and flow in the past few weeks.  So... the sound of om comes into all of this talk.  What follows is from Cyndi Lee.

What is Om?

OM is said to be the sound of the universe.  Everything in the universe moves in cycles, and this oscillating activity creates a pulse, a hum.  If you close your eyes and listen very carefully, you can hear your own heartbeat.  If you stand very still, you will begin to notice that you are swaying in an organic response to the rotation of the Earth.

When we chant "OM" it is a way to sound the wavelike energies of our heartbeats, breathing, emotions, and thoughts as they are happening right in this moment.  You can hear the quality of your own energy today--maybe you are loose, maybe you are tight, maybe you are flowing, or maybe you feel somewhat blocked.  It doesn't matter.  What you hear is not important; it's the listening that we are cultivating.  Listening to your own geniune sounding of OM is like looking in the mirror--it's a way to learn something about yourself.  Without judging or wishing anything were different, we can simply listen with close attention to our OMs.  Let each OM be a reminder that your rhythm is also part of the universal timepiece.