Yoga practice is predominantly considered an exercise involving various poses and stretches that help one relax. However, beneath the surface of all these processes, there exists the system of philosophy explaining the movement of energy within the human body. The concept of Ida and Pingala Nadis is one of the most telling examples of this.
Although nadis are not visible and cannot be observed and measured in the way blood vessels or nerves can, this concept has been widely discussed in yogic literature since many centuries. Nadis refer to the paths through which prana or life force energy moves through the human body. Nowadays, scientists and practitioners find many similarities between this concept and our contemporary knowledge of the nervous system and breathing techniques.
What Are Nadis?
Nadi is a Sanskrit term for “flow” Classically speaking, nadis refer to the subtle system of channels within our bodies through which prana moves. As written in ancient scriptures such as the Hatha Yoga Pradipika and Shiva Samhita, there are tens of thousands of nadis in the body, including up to 72,000 energy channels.
There are three main types of nadis, namely:
- Ida Nadi
- Pingala Nadi
- Sushumna Nadi
Both Ida and Pingala wind up the spine in an ascending manner until they cross at each of the main chakras, while Sushumna runs right through the middle. Yoga philosophy claims that energy can run through the Sushumna channel when Ida and Pingala are in balance.
Ida Nadi: The Moon Channel
Ida Nadi starts from the base of the spine and terminates at the left nostril. The Moon is the representative symbol of Ida Nadi since it refers to the energy channel of calmness, intuition, receptiveness, and contemplation.
Traditionally, Ida Nadi was viewed as a channel of the cooling energy within our body.
A balanced ida nadi brings the following benefits for the practitioner:
- Relaxed mind
- Good emotion regulation
- More creativity
- Intuition enhancement
- Quality sleep
- Feeling of inner peace
On the flip side, an imbalanced ida nadi is experienced as low motivation, too much daydreaming or emotional sensitivity.
Pingala Nadi: The Sun Channel
Similar to Ida, the Pingala Nadi begins from the base of the spine, but it ends at the right nostril and is related to the sun. Its properties include heat, vitality, self-confidence, activity and logic.
This energy controls activity, ambitions, extroversion. Pingala helps a person to have enough strength to work, to do exercises, to think and to achieve their goals.
Balance of Pingala causes a feeling of:
- Energy and motivation
- Concentration
- Physical strength
- Self-confidence
- Productiveness
Excessive energy results in restlessness, stress, irritation and inability to relax.
The Need for Balance
Yoga philosophy holds that neither Pingala nor Ida should prevail; on the contrary, they should be in harmony with each other as day and night, activity and rest, inhaling and exhaling.
Think about the constant effort without any relaxation in case when your energy is all Pingala, and the feeling of lack of motivation in case your energy is mostly Ida.
Real health is a result of balance between these forces.
The concept of balance is present in numerous areas:
- Work and rest
- Motion and immobility
- Logical thinking and intuition
- Toughness and kindness
A balanced ida and Pingala nadi activate the central, more subtle channe lof the sushumna nadi. This allows one to experience samadhi.
The Science of nadis
According to modern science, there is no such proof of the existence of nadis as bodily structures; however, there are quite a few connections between the notions of Yogic tradition and scientific knowledge about our body.
The Nervous System
Numerous yoga instructors tend to make a parallel between Ida and Pingala and the two divisions of the autonomic nervous system.
Namely, Ida is usually compared with the parasympathetic nervous system known as the “rest and digest” system, which decreases the heart rate, promotes digestion and relaxation.
The sympathetic nervous system that is considered the “fight or flight” response and prepares the organism for some actions is associated with Pingala.
The Breath and the Brain
Numerous studies have found out the phenomenon of the nasal cycle when airflow shifts from left to right nostrils throughout the day. Some scientific works show that more intensive breathing via one nostril can affect the state of mind either promoting alertness or relaxation.
Techniques That Aid in Balancing Ida and Pingala
There are various yogic techniques that help in balancing these energy channels.
- Alternate Nostril Breathing Technique (Nadi Shodhana): It is a commonly practiced pranayama. This technique involves breathing through each nostril alternately. It is said to purify the nadis and to balance Ida and Pingala. According to modern research, controlled breathing reduces stress, regulates the heart rate variability, and improves emotional regulation.
- Asanas: Different styles of asana practice activate different nadis. Strong, heat generating asanas like ashtanga and hatha stimulate the pingala nadi while gentle, releasing styles like yin yoga and restorative yoga stimulate the ida nadi.
- Dhyana: Through meditation, one can balance both the ida and the pingala nadi and activate the central channel. Most meditative practices stimulate the left channel. Certain dynamic/ active meditations also activate the right channel.
- Yamas and Niyamas: Balancing Ida and Pingala goes beyond the practice of yoga on the mat. Sleep, nutrition, stress management, being in nature, and living a healthy routine lifestyle aid in balancing the nervous system as well as the subtle energy systems.
The ancient science of our energy system holds insights for a disease free, and balanced body and mind. Purifying and balancing the nadi system brings us one step closer to inner peace and outer harmony.
