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Swara, Part One
Actions of Shushumna
Shushumna Nadi operates when both nostrils are operating simultaneously. This happens at the time of transition from one nostril to another. This breath is only meant to calm both sides of the body in preparation for the transition, and it is said that if Shushumna breathing goes on for more than five hours, it will begin a cycle of fatal disease.
All plans made during the Shushumna breath come to naught, projects started then do not prosper, relationships developed at this time fail. The only favorable activities for Shushumna are meditating, fasting and chanting - all of which become far more powerful at this time. Maybe this is why it is traditional in Yoga to begin the practice before dawn - so that the time of the shushumna breath could be included in the daily spiritual practice.
Changing Sides
A major part of the Swara Yoga is learning to undertake activities specific to the Swara at the time the Swara is active, but this is not always possible. Sometimes the nostril must be changed to fit properly with the activity.
The easiest method for doing this is to lay on the side opposite the one you wish to change to: If you are getting ready to perform a right side activity, lay on your left side with a small pillow or fist under the left armpit at the upper part of the rib cage. This will take a few minutes at first, and will get faster eventually.
The next method I have already mentioned, and that is to gently bock the nostril you wish to change from and do rapid inhalations and exhalations from the nostril you wish to change to, with the mouth closed. This is not a bad therapy for headaches, or at the feelings attendant to the onset of a cold, but it might raise an eyebrow in the office before a meeting.
One who practices meditation or pranayama will rapidly learn to concentrate the breath in the nostril that is needed by sensing the cool sensation in that nostril and expanding it (sorry, that's the best that I can explain it). At first, a little help may be needed by blocking the other nostril manually, but soon it becomes easy. At this point, the efficiency of the body and the accuracy of the natural changes increase, making for better overall health and a more calm mind. Again, this will take a little peace and quiet and some time at first, but eventually one will be able to change the nostril almost instantly and at will.
An aid to all these practices in both internal and external gazing, or Tratak. By looking first with the physical eyes and then with the inner eye at the nostril that you wish to change to is very helpful in increasing the speed of the change.
As with the eyes, the ears also can help in learning to take control of the Swara. By listening to the breathing, it is easy to tell which nostril is active, but difficult to concentrate on the sound well enough to tell the difference between the sounds. When one has reached this stage, one can evoke that sound mentally and cause the nostrils to change. This is a very advanced skill.
This is not all there is to Swara Yoga - it is the fastest path to mastery of the 5 elements, and will develop the so called psychic powers to a high level of sensitivity. The knowledge of the Swara and the five elements is also very helpful in aiding others with health problems, whether they are called physical or psychological.
This gift from the ancients is too easy to pursue to be ignored, and too fascinating not to investigate, because the goal is not merely to improve the health, and bring greater relaxation, but to allow the energy of choice to pervade every action. One can choose to wait for a certain activity until the nostril changes, or change the nostril at will. One can set an appointment for a matching of the Solar and Lunar Days, or change the nostril forcibly if need be. One can tell whether t hey are in a difficult or easy situation and take appropriate action according to the Swara of the time. Through these choices one achieves the state of Yoga, or Union with nature and the cosmos.
© Roy Kirkland, 2005