Pranayama
Chandra Bheda (Left-Nostril Breath)
Candra Bhedaचन्द्र भेद· CHUN-drah BHAY-dahpiercing the moon (candra) channel; lunar breath
Chandra Bheda (Left-Nostril Breath) is a cooling, calming pranayama: you inhale through the left nostril and exhale through the right, activating the body's lunar, cooling energy. It soothes and relaxes. Avoid it if you have low blood pressure or feel cold or low.
Step by step
- 1
Set the hand
Sit tall and use the right hand (Vishnu mudra) to control the nostrils.
- 2
Inhale left
Close the right nostril and inhale slowly through the left nostril.
Breath: Inhale left
- 3
Exhale right
Close the left nostril and exhale slowly through the right.
Breath: Exhale right
- 4
Continue on the same pattern
Keep inhaling left and exhaling right for several rounds, then release.
Benefits
- Cooling and calming
- Soothes the mind and eases tension
- Activates the body's lunar (cooling) energy
- Helpful when overheated or wound up
About this practice
The left nostril relates to ida nadi, the cooling 'lunar' channel. Chandra Bheda emphasises it — inhaling left, exhaling right — to calm and cool the body and mind. It is the soothing counterpart to the warming right-nostril practice, useful when you feel hot or over-stimulated.
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Frequently asked questions
- What is Chandra Bheda pranayama for?
- A cooling, calming breath — inhaling through the left nostril and exhaling through the right — used to soothe the mind and cool the body. Avoid it if you have low blood pressure or feel cold or low.
- When should I practise Chandra Bheda?
- When you feel hot, agitated or wound up — it's cooling and relaxing. Avoid it in cold weather or when you're already feeling low or sluggish.
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References
- Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Chapter 2 (Pranayama) · Classical text — Classical Hatha source describing yogic breathing practices.