If you Want Deep, Restorative Sleep, Try All-Natural, Simple Moon Breathing
If you don’t use “breathwork” (concentrating on your breathing) you might be surprised by just how effective it can be – and how it can help you in the most amazing ways. Yes, we all breathe, all the time, but we don’t normally think too much about it.
One of the most useful ways to harness your breathing is to use it to help you sleep (but of course, you can also use it to reduce nerves in stressful situations).
Controlling your breathing helps to activate the parasympathetic nervous system which slows your heart rate, reduces your blood pressure and starts to relax you. And that then tones down your sympathetic nervous system, so you are calm and ready to get deep, restorative sleep.
It almost sounds like magic, doesn’t it, that just breathing can do all that?
So, What’s Moon Breathing?
It’s an ancient Indian breathing practice (chandra bhedana pranayama in Sanskrit).
I’ll tell you about it – and I’ll also mention that I don’t take the thinking behind it too seriously (and perhaps I’m being very unfair about that), but the concept certainly works.
This philosophy says that our bodies have two energies – lunar energy on the left side, and solar energy on the right side. The lunar energy is slow and calming, while the solar energy is fiery and uplifting.
Tap into the slow, calming lunar energy when you want to sleep – especially if your mind is racing and you’re not relaxed, but you know you need to sleep.
(And you get stressed because you can’t sleep, and you can’t sleep because you’re stressed …..).
But does it work today? Find out below…..
Slash your stress!
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Does Moon Breathing Work in Today’s World?
It’s been around for centuries, but more and more recent research is showing it works – with people saying they feel less stressed, get more (and better) sleep, and feel calmer.
For example, a small 2022 study analyzed the effects of right versus left nostril breathing on brain activity in 30 subjects. When they practiced moon breathing, their brains showed greater activity in a region associated with being in a relaxed, restorative state.
Another small 2022 study found that among a group of 149 medical students, those who practiced moon breathing daily for four weeks demonstrated an improvement in self-reported sleep quality as compared to a control group.
Some scientists suggest it might work so well because you’re only breathing through one nostril (more on that shortly) so you’re getting less air so your body must be more efficient with the air. (If you’re stressed, you may hyperventilate or breathe too quickly which can trigger anxiety).
How to practice Moon Breathing
The beauty of moon breathing is that you can use it anytime, anywhere. You don’t need any equipment. You don’t need to be at home.
(But you DO need to be able to breathe easily through your nose).
Find a comfortable position, then –
- Place your thumb underneath your right nostril to close it off, and inhale through your left nostril.
- Either exhale through your left nostril, or release your right nostril and exhale through your nose OR mouth.
- Repeat – but always try to breathe at a steady pace, with your inhales and exhales of the same length.
Why Not Try It?
Moon breathing is easy to do, and the benefits are great.
If you’re feeling jittery or anxious—whether before an important work presentation or first date or when your mind won’t stop racing before sleep —try Moon Breathing.
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What do you think? Let me know in the comments below.
Warm regards,
P.S. Don’t forget to join the 5-day Yoga to De-Stress Challenge – it’s fun! You’ll be glad you did. Click here to join – it’s FREE!
