A chance meeting with a music director gave me a totally new perspective on Bhramari Pranayama. She said, “I love this pranayama so much that I would like to dedicate my next composition to the tune of bhramari. The energy it generates is soothing and truly mesmerising.”
Bhramari is an ancient technique of the yogic pranayama practice. In Sanskrit, bhramari means honeybee & pranayama means regulation of breath. With this practice, one reaches a profound state of stillness & serenity. The technique is quite simple. Sit in any meditative posture, take a deep long breath & follow it with a steady prolonged humming sound. The fingers are placed on different parts of the face (as depicted in the illustration). Those who experience frozen shoulder, neck stiffness, or cervical issues can rest their hands on the thighs.
The benefits are endless and well documented. But a few which I have personally experienced and the super response that I have got from my clients are
- Regular practice gives wings to creativity and self-expression because the energy center in the throat region responsible for effective communication – also known as Vishuddhi Chakra – gets activated.
- Heart care – useful in hypertension & heart diseases
- Hormonal health – effectively works on the thyroid gland
- Nervous system – reduces anxiety, stress, muscle tension, anger, frustration
- Sound sleep – restores proper sleep mechanism
- Excellent for singers
- Improves memory & attentiveness
- Rejuvenates the body inside out
- Inner connect
The sound vibrations generated by Bhramari relax the muscles, tissues, blood vessels & nerve endings. This improves & increases the blood circulation not just to the organs but to the extremities as well. Overall a blissful feeling!
Bhramari is a very simple pranayama & can be performed by anyone. However, it’s best to consult an expert before you start. You may require initial guidance, after which you can independently practice.
Words of advice – habits are formed only when they are performed regularly. The effects are visible only after a while. Keep practicing!
Happy humming!