Breath Balancing Pose – Padadhirasana
Padadhirasana, or the Breath Balancing Pose, is a yogic technique performed seated in Vajrasana(Thunderbolt Pose) where the hands are placed under the armpits.
Whats the story?
Placing Hands Under the Armpits Clears the Nostrils and here’s the mechanics.
The mechanism is not a direct physical one (like squeezing a tube) but rather an indirect, reflexive one involving the nervous system. Here’s how it works:
1. Pressure on Nerve Plexuses: The armpit area is a major neurovascular hub. Placing pressure here, specifically in the hollow of the armpit, stimulates a complex network of nerves, including the brachial plexus and numerous sympathetic nerve fibers.
2. Stimulation of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS): This pressure creates a reflexive action that influences the ANS, which controls involuntary bodily functions like heart rate, digestion, and—crucially for this pose—breathing and nasal cycle.
3. Balancing Ida and Pingala: In yogic anatomy, the breath alternates between the left and right nostrils, governed by the two main energy channels or nadis:
* The left nostril is connected to the Ida nadi, which is cooling, calming, and associated with the parasympathetic nervous system.
* The right nostril is connected to the Pingala nadi, which is heating, energizing, and associated with the sympathetic nervous system.
The pressure under the armpits acts as a mudra (seal or gesture) to help balance the flow of energy in these channels, which often results in both nostrils opening and the breath becoming smooth and even.
Which Armpit Clears Which Nostril?
This is where the principle of contralateral (opposite side) stimulation comes into play, a common concept in both yoga and neurology.
* Placing the right hand under the RIGHT armpit stimulates the sympathetic nervous system on that side. This stimulation travels and affects the opposite side of the body, helping to clear and open the LEFT nostril (governed by Ida nadi).
* Placing the left hand under the LEFT armpit has a calming, parasympathetic effect on that side. This effect crosses over, helping to clear and open the RIGHT nostril (governed by Pingala nadi).
In short:
* Right armpit → Clears Left nostril
* Left armpit → Clears Right nostril
Why Does This Happen?
The “why” is rooted in the body’s neural wiring. Many neural pathways, especially those involved in motor control and sensory information, decussate (cross over) in the brainstem or spinal cord. The reflexive action initiated by pressure in the armpit follows these crossed pathways, creating an effect on the opposite side of the body.
Therefore, this specific hand placement in Padadhirasana is a deliberate and sophisticated technique to use physical pressure to create a reflexive neurological response, balancing the autonomic nervous system and ensuring a free, unobstructed flow of breath through both nostrils—a state highly conducive to meditation and pranayama.
Everything is connected. 🙏