Pranayama for reducing anxiety

Guiding the client in using centering and grounding and then Nadi Suddhi for fending off anxiety or stress.

Male, mid 60s, stroke survivor that occasionally experiences anxiety of having experienced a stroke. Fears of having another to imagining symptoms that cause them stress.

I introduced myself to him and explained what pranayama was and what it was going to do for the nervous system. I explained that when practicing Nadi Suddhi we were balancing the nerves and turning on the parasympathic nervous system activating the rest and digest process. This turns off the state of high alert many stroke survivors feel that they are in a state of, constantly on high alert in fear of the next stroke or adverse health event.

Pranayama. Pranayama activates the parasympathetic nervous system helping to shut down feelings of anxiety many stroke survivors experience.

Client did well and followed instructions.

I suggested to the client to practice Nadi Suddhi daily for at least 10 minutes. Daily practice builds resistance to anxiety teaching the body to be in a relaxed state vs a state of awareness. I had communication with the client afterward and he said he was experiencing tension headache and I encouraged his to use Nadi Suddhi to help with that.

Yes everything went as planned. I truly believe the goal was achieved. At the end of the session I could visibly see a change in the clients energy and appearance. A sense of relaxation could be seen on his face.

No I did not have to adapt anything. In speaking to the client after the session I would in the future ask the client of their experience with Pranayama. I was instructing him with a 3 count breath when he was used to a 4 count breath (he practices box breathing sometimes with that breath count)
Client also provided feedback that he appreciated that I explained to him what the practice of Nadi Suddhi was and what benefit it was going to give to the body. He said he had never had anyone explain the benefit of what was being done in group settings.

Overall I would teach basically the same was for future one to one pranayama sessions. I would ask more about previous experience and adapted the instructions according to that. This practice was based on a 20 minute session but in future I think there would be more benefit making any sessions min of 30 minutes. This would allow for a longer guided or silent meditation at the end and for the client of sit with the benefits of the Nadi Suddhi practice experiencing the calm and bliss of it.