Nāḍīśuddhi

Purification of the subtle channels (nadi) through alternating nostril breathing. The foundational practice of pranayama that balances ida and pingala, preparing the system for higher techniques.

Traditional texts describe it as essential before any advanced practice — just as a dirty mirror cannot reflect clearly, impure nāḍīs cannot sustain the flow of prana. The goal is not mere physiological balance but the awakening of sushumna.

Typically practiced as nāḍīśodhana — the cleansing — it uses specific mudra hand positions and prescribed ratios of inhalation, retention, and exhalation.