#quoting FROM: https://swamij.com/breath.htm#balancing ------------------------------------------------------------------ Balancing breath by using the mind: Going along with the Alternate Nostril breathing exercise, is the gradually acquired skill of opening a blocked nostril with the mind. Attention is directed to the nostril which is more closed, and in a short time it will open and flow freely. Then, one can shift to the other nostril and open it a bit more as well. In this way, the mind is used directly to regulate the breath and the energy flow that is more subtle than the physical breath. This is a real key to learning how to self-regulate your own energy system, whether used for meditation (which is what it is intended for), or for improving one's physical health. It is an important part of self-healing. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Alternate Nostril breathing: When the energy is not balanced, one of the most visible ways in which this is seen, is in the nostrils. Most of the time, one or the other nostril is more dominant, allowing air to move more freely. This is quite a natural process. However, when they are flowing evenly, the mind really likes to be quiet and meditate. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Balancing breathing People often speak of getting balanced or centered. The mental and subtle energies in the body get out of alignment and cause disturbances in the body and mind. Being centered has to do with balancing the energy on the left or right sides of the body. Many of that practices deal directly or indirectly with this process. Essential for meditation: For advanced meditation, it is essential that one balance the breath and these energies, along with the mind. See also the descriptions of Balancing Ida and Pingala in the Kundalini Awakening article.