Swara YogaSwara Yoga

What is Swara Yoga?What is Swara Yoga?

• Ancient, closely guarded, esoteric scienceAncient, closely guarded, esoteric science• Origins in the TantrasOrigins in the Tantras• One text – ‘Shivaswaroday’ – dialogue One text – ‘Shivaswaroday’ – dialogue

between Shiva & Parvatibetween Shiva & Parvati• Swara – continuous soundSwara – continuous sound• Science of breath, prana, its rhythms, Science of breath, prana, its rhythms,

movements and patternsmovements and patterns• Talks of relationship between prana and Talks of relationship between prana and

cosmic pranacosmic prana• Science of Siddhis or ESPScience of Siddhis or ESP

Science & Swara YogaScience & Swara Yoga

• Body – Dynamo with infinite Body – Dynamo with infinite electrical currents electrical currents

• Kirlian Photography & PranaKirlian Photography & Prana

• Breath – controls many autonomic & Breath – controls many autonomic & voluntary functions voluntary functions

• Nose – Peripheral organ of the Nose – Peripheral organ of the autonomic nervous systemautonomic nervous system

Prana & emotionsPrana & emotions

• Thoughts and prana travel through Thoughts and prana travel through the breath.the breath.

• Emotions affect the breath.Emotions affect the breath.

• Examples -Examples -

Advantages of Swara YogaAdvantages of Swara Yoga

• Fighting wars, Overcome enemy, Fighting wars, Overcome enemy, winning friendswinning friends

• Gaining wealth, prosperity, popularityGaining wealth, prosperity, popularity• Winning favor of king, Winning favor of king, • Knowledge of past, present & futureKnowledge of past, present & future• Achieving sound mental, physical & Achieving sound mental, physical &

spiritual healthspiritual health• Swara in Daily LifeSwara in Daily Life

Left nostrilLeft nostril

Ida nadiIda nadi

Mental energyMental energy

MoonMoon

ColdCold

FemaleFemale

Right brainRight brain

RelaxationRelaxation

Considered auspiciousConsidered auspicious

Right nostrilRight nostril

Pingala nadiPingala nadi

Physical energyPhysical energy

SunSun

HotHot

MaleMale

Left brainLeft brain

Stress responseStress response

Hard, tough, not so Hard, tough, not so virtuousvirtuous

Swara or NostrilsSwara or Nostrils

Acts to be performedActs to be performed

• LeftLeft• All auspicious actsAll auspicious acts• Stable, permanent Stable, permanent

actionsactions• Purchasing jewelry, Purchasing jewelry,

clothes, journey etcclothes, journey etc• Construction of houseConstruction of house• Offices, temple etc.Offices, temple etc.• Marriages, religious Marriages, religious

rights, peaceful workrights, peaceful work• Treating incurable Treating incurable

diseasesdiseases

• RightRight• Extreme tantra tech.Extreme tantra tech.• Destroying enemiesDestroying enemies• Sensual pleasuresSensual pleasures• Work requiring Work requiring

extreme dynamism, extreme dynamism, • physical workphysical work• Solving Mathematics, Solving Mathematics, • Eating, gratifying Eating, gratifying

senses senses • Meanest & worst Meanest & worst

actionsactions

Third Swara SushumnaThird Swara Sushumna

• Center of the spinal cordCenter of the spinal cord

• Shiva in So-HamShiva in So-Ham

• Left & right swara flows togetherLeft & right swara flows together

• No worldly action recommended, No worldly action recommended, work gives no resultwork gives no result

• Non attachmentNon attachment

• Meditation recommendedMeditation recommended

How nostrils work?How nostrils work?

• Nostrils change every 1 to 3 hours, from Nostrils change every 1 to 3 hours, from left nostril for 1 to 3 hours to right left nostril for 1 to 3 hours to right nostril for 1 to 3 hours again to leftnostril for 1 to 3 hours again to left

• A healthy rhythm, is 1 ½ hours.A healthy rhythm, is 1 ½ hours.

• Linked with the sun and moon phases.Linked with the sun and moon phases.

• When both nostrils are active – When both nostrils are active – Sushumna nadi is active Sushumna nadi is active

Daily ScheduleDaily Schedule

• Get up before sunrise for better physical and Get up before sunrise for better physical and mental health. mental health.

• Waking – check which nostril is most active and Waking – check which nostril is most active and move that side first. move that side first.

• Yoga & exerciseYoga & exercise• Eating foodEating food• Mental work – left nostrilMental work – left nostril• Physical work – right nostrilPhysical work – right nostril• SleepSleep• TravelTravel• ShoppingShopping• Enjoyment – parties, movies, get together Enjoyment – parties, movies, get together

Interactions & RelationshipsInteractions & Relationships

• Left nostril – peaceful and friendly Left nostril – peaceful and friendly

• Right nostril – aggressive and Right nostril – aggressive and forcefulforceful

• Relationships & nostrilsRelationships & nostrils

FoodFood

• What you eat affects swaras or nostril What you eat affects swaras or nostril rhythms.rhythms.

• Right – proper hunger and digestive Right – proper hunger and digestive stimulation.stimulation.

• Left – depressive – can increase or Left – depressive – can increase or decrease hunger in an unnatural way.decrease hunger in an unnatural way.

• Cold – milk, banana, curd, guava Cold – milk, banana, curd, guava (stimulate left)(stimulate left)

• Hot – spices, ginger, garlic (right)Hot – spices, ginger, garlic (right)

How to change the nostrils.How to change the nostrils.

• Anuloma Viloma / Alternate nostril breath Anuloma Viloma / Alternate nostril breath for 10 – 15 min.for 10 – 15 min.

• Place cotton wool in left nostril to block it – Place cotton wool in left nostril to block it – turns on right nostril.turns on right nostril.

• Hand under left armpit and press for 5 min Hand under left armpit and press for 5 min to turn on right nostril.to turn on right nostril.

• Sleep on left side to turn on right nostril. Sleep on left side to turn on right nostril.

• Same nostril breathing will turn the nostril Same nostril breathing will turn the nostril on.on.

HealthHealth

• Can predict and prevent disturbances in Can predict and prevent disturbances in health. health.

• To maintain health, balance the nostrils.To maintain health, balance the nostrils.• Stress – balance both the nostrilsStress – balance both the nostrils• Depression & anxiety – activate more right Depression & anxiety – activate more right

nostrilnostril• Anger & aggression – activate left nostrilAnger & aggression – activate left nostril• If a cold is coming – left is more active. To If a cold is coming – left is more active. To

prevent it activate right.prevent it activate right.• Migraine – change nostril.Migraine – change nostril.• Heatstroke – switch on left nostril.Heatstroke – switch on left nostril.