Soothing the Mind with Bhramari Pranayama: The Humming Bee Breath

In the vast and diverse practice of yoga, Bhramari Pranayama, also known as the Humming Bee Breath, emerges as a profoundly soothing pranayama (breathing exercise) designed to calm the nervous system and foster a deep connection with one’s inner essence. The practice draws its name from the Sanskrit word "Bhramari," meaning "bee," aptly named for the distinctive humming sound produced during the exercise, reminiscent of a bee's gentle buzz.

The Multifaceted Benefits of Bhramari Pranayama

Bhramari Pranayama is celebrated for its wide array of mental, emotional, and physical benefits. By generating a soothing humming sound, it quiets the mind, releases tension in the brain, and stimulates the pineal and pituitary glands, enhancing their function. This pranayama is a powerful tool for alleviating stress and anxiety, dissolving anger, reducing high blood pressure, and improving the health of the throat. Moreover, it strengthens the voice, supports tissue healing, induces restful sleep, and balances the doshas, contributing to overall well-being.

Contraindications: Practice with Caution

While Bhramari Pranayama offers numerous benefits, it is not suitable for everyone. Pregnant or menstruating women, individuals with extremely high blood pressure, epilepsy, chest pain, or active ear infections should refrain from this practice. It is also advised not to practice Bhramari in a supine position (lying down) to ensure safety and effectiveness.

When and How to Practice Bhramari Pranayama

Timing: Bhramari can be practiced at any time of day, although the quiet of early morning and late night makes these times particularly conducive to the practice. An empty stomach is ideal to fully experience the benefits.

The Practice:

1. Find a Comfortable Seat: Sit cross-legged on the floor with a cushion for support or on a chair with feet flat on the ground. Ensure your spine is erect, and your body is relaxed.

2. Prepare Your Mouth and Hands: Close your lips, part your teeth slightly, and position your tongue lightly behind the upper front teeth. Close your ears with your thumbs, place your index fingers above the eyebrows, and let the rest of your fingers gently cover your eyes, pressing lightly against the nose.

3. Breathe and Hum: Inhale deeply through the nostrils, filling your belly with air. As you exhale, produce a low-pitched ‘hmmm’ sound, feeling the vibration resonate through your head and body. Focus your awareness on the ajna chakra (third eye) and allow the vibration to envelop you.

4. Repeat: Start with seven repetitions, gradually increasing to seventeen as you become more comfortable with the practice.

5. Reflect: After completing the rounds, return to normal breathing and observe any changes in your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual state.

Bhramari Pranayama at Our Panchakarma Center

At our Panchakarma center, we emphasize the importance of traditional yoga techniques like Bhramari Pranayama in achieving holistic health. As part of the comprehensive Panchakarma process, pranayama practices are integral to preparing the body and mind for detoxification and rejuvenation. Bhramari, with its profound calming effects, is particularly beneficial in enhancing the therapeutic outcomes of Panchakarma, ensuring a deeply healing and transformative experience.

Embracing Bhramari for Well-being

Bhramari Pranayama is a testament to yoga’s gentle yet powerful approach to wellness. By integrating this practice into your daily routine, you invite peace, balance, and harmony into your life, paving the way for a journey of healing and self-discovery. Whether you are seeking to alleviate stress, improve your sleep, or simply enjoy a moment of tranquility, Bhramari Pranayama offers a sanctuary of calm in the bustling rhythm of modern life.

Disclaimer: The sole purpose of these articles is to provide information about the tradition of Ayurveda. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure or prevention of any disease.

Ayurvedic Daily Routine

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According to Ayurveda, routine plays a very important role in health. A natural life is regulated according to the individual constitution. It is best to have daily regimen governing all daily actions such as the time one wakes up in the morning and the time one begins body purification. 

In the morning before sunrise, one should wake up, excrete waste, clean teeth, mouth, eyes, nose and throat. After its good to drink a warm glass of water to help clean the kidneys and large intestine. During sleep and in the morning is the body’s natural time of purification. It is good to hold practice that will help this. 

One should then massage the body with oil and take a bath. This will produce a sense of freshness and alertness. After bath, put on comfortable clothes for exercise and meditation. Breathing exercises are also important in the daily regimen. After exercises, rest comfortably on the back with arms and legs outstretched and breath from the lower abdomen.

Breakfast may follow exercise and meditation. Lunch should be eaten before or around noon, if possible dinner before sunset. Its is best to go to bed by ten o’ clock. This regimen follows the flow of energy within the body and in the external environment. It is necessary at all times to remain aware of the flow in order to get the maximum benefit from your daily routine. 

Daily Routine

• Awaken Before Sunrise.
• Evacuate bowels and bladder after waking.
• Bathe every day creates a sense of bodily freshness.
• Drink a warm glass of water, can add slice of lemon.
• Exercise, breathing techniques and meditation.
• Take breakfast before 8:30.
• Take a short 15 min walk after breakfast.
• Eat in silence with awareness to food.
• Eat slowly.
• Massage the gums with the finger and sesame oil.
• Sleep before 10:30pm.

Diet and Digestion

• One teaspoon of grated fresh ginger with a pinch of salt is a good appetizer.
• Drinking real buttermilk with a pinch of ginger or cumin help digestion.
• A teaspoon of ghee with rice helps digestion.
• A glass of raw, warm milk with ginger taken at bedtime is nourishing to the body and calms the mind.
• Over eating is unhealthy.
• Largest meal of the day should be at lunch.
• Drinking a lot of water immediately before or taking food adversely affects digestions.
• Prolonged fasting is unhealthy.
• Excess intake of cold drinks and food reduces resistance and creates excess mucus.
• Taking a nap after lunch will increase body weight and drowsiness.
• Eating close to the same time everyday will optimize digestion.

Physical Hygiene

• Do not repress the natural urges of the body, defecation, urination, coughing, sneezing, yawning, belching and passing gas.
• During fever do not eat and observe a ginger tea fast.
• Rubbing the soles of the feet with sesame oil before bedtime produces a calm quite sleep.
• Application of oil to the head clams the mind and induces sound sleep.
• Self oil massage promotes good circulation and reduces anxiety and pain.
• Do not sleep on belly.
• Bad breath may indicate constipation, poor digestion, and toxins in the colon.
• Body odor indicates toxins in the system.
• Laying on the back for 15mins clams the mind and relaxes the body.
• Dry hair immediately after washing to prevent sinus problems.
• After sex, milk heated with raw cashes and raw sugar promotes strength and maintains sexual energy.
• Avoid physical exertion such as yoga or running during menstruation.
• Avoid over exercise.

Mental Hygiene

• Fear and nervousness dissipates energy and aggravates Vata.
• Possessiveness, greed and attachment enhance Kapha.
• Worry weakens the heart.
• Hate and anger create toxins in the body and aggravates pitta.
• Excessive talking dissipates energy and aggravates Vata.
• Create positive thoughts and affirmations.
• Practice of meditation and breathing techniques, they balance the mind and body, increases energy and vitality

 Ayurveda comprehensively illuminates the basic laws and principles governing life on earth. To understand Ayurveda is to understand the forces that engender our well-being as well as those that lie at the root of disease. The mind, body and consciousness are harmoniously working as one. When the balance of any of these systems is disturbed all are responsible for physical and psychological pain and misery. It is now time to look into the living book, which is your body, mind and consciousness. True knowledge resides in this temple. In applying your experience in that sanctuary the knowledge is set forth here, you will find the only authentic and trustworthy demonstration of the truth Ayurveda holds. The journey is long, but we will always return to the place whence we began.

Stress and Rasayana

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Today, stress has become an inevitable and the most unwanted companion of civilization. In biological terms, stress is defined as anything constituting a threat, real or apparent, which would adversely affect the organism. It can be induced by several factors like environmental changes, extremes of temperature, high altitude, restraints, fear, rage, anxiety, shock, grief, pain and so on. As far as body is able to cope with it, a stress act as a normal stimulus required for our physical and social well being and is better known as “eustress”. On the other hand, stress becomes “distress” when the individual is unable to cope with it. Thus, eustress helps in improving the performance, whereas, distress is known to induce a number of clinical maladies, like hypertension, coronary artery disease, peptic ulcer, asthma, migraine, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, diabetes mellitus, thyrotoxicosis, behavioral disorders like anxiety and depression and the list is very long.

The fact that stress plays an important role in the aetiology of several diseases is well recognized in Ayurveda, where, stress is known assahasa. Caraka advises to avoid sahasa as it adversely affects the body. Different types of stressors physical, psychological and environmental as they vitiate dosas are implicated in the aetiology of several diseases. Sahasa as it causes ojahksaya- loss of immunity increase the susceptibility of the body to various infectious diseases. Therefore, sahasa should be avoided as far as possible and body should be well protected by talking adequate care of the three sub pillars of life-diet, sleep, and celibacy – traya upastambhaiti – aharah, swapnoh, brahmacaryamiti, sleep here indicates adequate rest required by the body.

Rationally the best approach is to hit at the root cause, and this is particularly ideal strategy in the stress-management. Stress avoidance has been best appreciated by Caraka who states that in order to protect one’s life one should always avoid over-exerting himself. However, in today’s world of bottle neck competition, stress is an inevitable companion of success. This stress is justified also because of the results it bring along, however, the stress induced diseases can not be acceptable. Therefore, although stress avoidance is the ideal approach, it is not the most appropriate strategy and stress needs to be managed by strengthening the body’s adapting capacity to the stress. 

The coping capacity of the body can be increased by life style modifications, dietary interventions and / or drug treatment, all these being well organized under the umbrella of rasayana therapy, one of the eight branches of classical Ayurveda. Susruta defines rasayana tantra as the branch that improves longevity along with physical and mental strength and immunity. Ayurvedic approach to complete health is not fundamentally drug oriented, drugs being just one aspect of this multidimensional approach. All the same rasayana therapy in its purview includes drugs, dietary regimens and codes of conduct. 

Acara rasayana, constitutes the balanced use of sense organs, non-violence and self control is advised. This also suggests a regular routine free from stress. Ajasrika rasayana is about observing a nutritious and balanced dietary routine. A balanced diet consisting of all the six rasas and modified as per desa, kala (climate, environment and season), age and prakrti (dosic constitution) of the individual. In disease states, the dietary substances opposite to vitiated dosas are advised. In health, the balanced diet is considered the best rasayana.

Ausadha rasayana, i.e., the drug treatment becomes effective only when the first two are appropriately followed. Thus, to obtain the maximum benefits of rasayana therapy, one should regularly observe acara rasayana be careful of his diet and intermittently take rasayana drugs after proper purification.

Why Meditation?

 "In meditation, when the mind is calm, alert and totally contented, then it is like a laser beam - it is very powerful and healing can happen."  Sri Ravi Shankar

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So what is it to be healthy? To attain a perfect state of health, one also has to remain mentally calm, steady and emotionally stable. In Ayurveda Swathya means health. Its definition includes being in one's self. Swathya or health is not just confined to the body or the mind; it also connects with the spirit or consciousness. The clearer the consciousness is the more well-being is gained. It has been said that the root of an illness can lay in mind/consciousness. So by attending to the mind, clearing if of disturbances the recovery to health speeds up.  

The practice and philosophy of Ayurveda are not only to restore balance and ease the aches and pains of the body but also those of the spirit. Since ancient times, the message of Ayurveda has been to keep in a state of balance and to avoid extremes so that the existence of the Divine can be felt on the central nervous system. Meditation has great benefits for the human system as a whole. Many people vouch for the fact that meditation has caused marked improvements in their health situations both physical and mental. This has also been proved correct scientifically. Mediation is a process by which there are marked changes in the patterns of the brain waves, having long-term healing effects. Scientists have started realizing the importance of mediation in various healing procedures. Many doctors are now starting to recommend the process of meditation in the cases of people suffering from chronic disorders and also in the cases of terminally ill patients. 

Meditation gives complete rest to the entire system, especially to the brain that keeps functioning during the time we sleep. It invigorates and relaxes the mind so that it can start again afresh. Through meditation the body's metabolism is given attention helping lower the heart rate and blood pressure, which is directly related to the reduction of cholesterol levels in the body, thus reducing the chances of cardiovascular diseases. Stress-related disorders are greatly impacted with the practice of meditation. Stress releases lactate and cortisol in the bloodstream, having a damaging effect on various organs. Meditation helps reduce the production of these chemicals. Keep the body vital and strong. 

Prana (or breath) is the vital life energy and is the very basis of health and well-being. Practicing breathing through meditation will provide you with energy, alertness, good humor riding your body of lethargy, dullness or weak enthusiasm. It has been profoundly useful for patients suffering from respiratory disorders because the process of breathing gets stabilized and relaxed, promoting clear and even flow of breath to the entire system. People suffering with asthma, allergies, and sleeping disorders are greatly impacted by the daily practice of breathing meditations. 

So many people misunderstand meditation and when the hear the word "meditation" they want to run the other way. Most people think "oh there is no way I can sit for that long, or I am too busy, sick or have a too an active mind." They key is to start slowly. In Dr. Frawley mentioned in his book "Ayurveda and the mind" Mantras serves like a boat to take us across the ocean of the unconscious. Mantra prepared meditation is easier, safer and stronger than trying to meditate directly. For beginners, guided meditation is very beneficial. Below is a couple simple meditations and mantra. Give it a try and see how meditation can significantly impact your life!

Simple Daily Meditation
Allow the mind to relax; please follow theses easy instructions. Sit on the forward third of a chair or a cushion on the floor. Arrange your legs in a position you can maintain comfortably. In the half-lotus position, place your right leg on your left thigh. In the full lotus position, put your feet on opposite legs. You may also sit quietly with your legs tucked in close to your body, but be sure that your weight is distributed on three points: both of your knees on the ground and your buttocks on the ground cushion. On a chair, keep your knees apart about the width of your shoulders, feet firmly planted on the floor.

Take a deep breath, exhale fully, and take another deep breath, exhaling fully. With proper physical posture, you're breathing will flow naturally into your lower abdomen. Breathe naturally, without judgment or trying to breathe a certain way. Keep your attention on your breath. When your attention wanders, bring it back to the breath again and again -- as many times as necessary! Remain as still as possible, following your breath and returning to it whenever thoughts arise.  Be full, vitally present with yourself. Simply do your very best. At the end of you're sitting period, gently swing your body from right to left in increasing arcs. Stretch out your legs, and be sure they have felt before standing. Practice this peaceful meditation every day for at least ten to fifteen minutes (or longer), and you will discover for yourself the treasure house of meditation.