Anulom vilom pranayama for high blood pressure

Question

Hi,

          How should one do anulom vilom pranayam in case of high blood pressure and how much duration one must do it, please also explain what other pranayama are beneficial in high blood pressure.

Thanks

Answer 1

Anuloma Viloma is basically alternate nostril breathing. In this breathing technique, you inhale through one nostril, retain the breath and exhale through the other nostril. It has to be done in specific ratio starting from 1:1:1, 1:2:1, 1:4:2, etc. However, because of high blood pressure, one should not retain the breath - just inhale from one nostril and exhale from other nostril only and vice versa.

Apart from anuloma-viloma, casual relaxation (shavasana and omkar chanting) and yoga nidra (yogic sleep or psychic sleep )for 20 minutes every day will effectively help you.