Which side is open
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A breath is moving through your nose right now. One side is probably carrying more of it.
This is the nasal cycle, and research has measured it: airflow really does favour one nostril, then slowly swaps over hours. In yoga, the open side is watched closely. Some people find it seems to track how alert or settled they feel.
When does yours switch?
What you'll need
- A finger, to close one nostril at a time
- A few moments across the day
Method
Close one nostril gently with a finger and breathe in.
Then swap, and compare.
The side that feels freer is the one that's open right now.
Note which side it is, and roughly the time.
Check in a few times a day for a week, and notice how long each side stays open, and whether it lines up with how you feel.