Physical Education · Ch 3 — Yoga
Bhramari Pranayama
Bhramari Pranayama
The word "Bhramari" means a black bee, and in this pranayama the sound produced resembles the buzzing of a black bee. Bhramari is effective in instantly calming the mind and is one of the best breathing exercises for keeping the mind free of agitation, frustration and anxiety and for getting rid of anger.
Drawn by us to help you understand the concept clearly, and verified to make sure it's accurate. For exams, practice from your textbook's own diagram.
A bare-torso person sits cross-legged (Padmasana) with the back straight and both elbows raised out to the sides. Both hands are brought up to the face so that the thumbs close the ears and the fingers rest over the closed eyes (Shanmukhi mudra), shutting out external sound while t …
Technique
- Sit in Padmasana or any comfortable sitting position.
- Close the eyes, the lips and the ears.
- Inhale deeply and then exhale while making a sound like that of a black bee.
- To gain the full benefit, close both ears with the thumbs and exhale making the bee-like humming sound.
Why it calms so quickly
The gentle, continuous humming vibration produced during Bhramari is felt directly in the skull, sinuses and inner ear, because the ears are closed during the exhalation. These vibrations are thought to soothe the nerves around the head and settle brain activity almost immediately, which is why Bhramari is one of the fastest-acting pranayamas for calming anger, anxiety or agitation — often noticeable within just a few rounds.
Benefits
- The practice of Bhramari delights (calms and pleases) the mind.
- It is beneficial for pregnant women as preparation for labour.
- It improves blood circulation in the brain and clears the ears, eyes, nose and throat.
Precautions
- Should not be practised on an empty stomach.
- Avoid pressing the ears too hard with the thumbs — the pressure should be gentle, just enough to close the ear canal, never enough to cause pain or ringing.
- Those with an ear infection or a severe migraine should practise cautiously or avoid it until the condition clears.