Bhramari Pranayam

The word “Bhramari” has been derived from “Bhramer,” which means “a humming bumblebee.” In this pranayam, you shut your lips, and you gently and smoothly make a sound like a humming bumblebee in your throat. This pranayam gives a tingling sensation while performing it. It is done generally after performing Anulom Vilom Pranayam for its full effect.

Procedure

• Sit in any meditative pose, keeping the spine and head erect.
• Now, close both eyes and relax the whole body.
• Then, fold your arms at elbows and shut the earlobes or close the ear holes with the index fingers.
• Make sure your elbows stay in a straight line with the shoulders so that air passes through the respiratory system without any intervention.
• Now inhale deeply (Radhey) and while exhaling (Krishna), produce a humming sound like that of a bumblebee or an aeroplane.
• This is one cycle of Bhramari Pranayam; repeat it 5-10 times.

Note: One may feel cold and tingling sensation, so it advisable that breathing should never be stopped under any circumstances. Ensure that there is no strain involved while you are humming. Do not inhale or exhale any deeper or longer than you are comfortable. Always breathe through your nose as it not only warms the air to your body temperature, but it also helps you to breathe deeply and longer.

Meditation
While doing Bhramari Pranayam, with your eyes closed, you may imagine yourself to be a bee creating a humming sound. Just as a bumblebee hums around and drinks nectar from a flower, visualize yourself moving around the lotus feet of your Iṣhṭa Dev (the form of God that you worship).

Benefits

• Bhramari Pranayam is a very special pranayam for servicing the parts of the brain.
• The problems of insomnia and high blood pressure are easily treated.
• It is advantageous in heart diseases, thyroid problems, respiratory ailments such as asthma and diabetes.
• It also helps reduce depression and release mental stress and anxiety.

Contraindications

• People suffering from severe ear infections should not perform it until the infection clears up.