Bumblebee Breathing For Mental Balance

This quick breath breath is all about bumblebee or bhramari breath. In this form of breath work, the exhale is lengthened as we hum (like a bee!) with every exhale. The vibration in the chest that comes along with the humming often feels very grounding. You will be making a humming sound with every breath, so you may prefer to save this practice for when you are in a space where you would feel most comfortable making sounds in your practice.

Transcript

Today's breathwork practice comes from a yogic breathwork called bumblebee breath in English,

And in Sanskrit,

It's called brahmari breath.

It's called a bumblebee breath because we really are going to make the sound of a bumblebee here together.

One of my meditation students once told me this felt like they were in the womb again,

Which I thought was just the best description for what is a very grounding,

Insulating practice.

In brahmari breath,

You take a full breath in through the nose,

And then as you breathe out through the nose,

You hum for the full length of the exhale.

So it will sound like this.

We will complete 10 rounds,

And you will hear me humming right along with you.

And you'll also hear me speak up when those 10 rounds are complete to guide you in closing your practice.

Okay,

So let's begin.

Find a comfortable seat with an upright spine and open chest.

Finding the breath in the body first and take an exhale to prepare.

Let's begin.

A close returning to the natural breath.

Allowing the eyes to remain closed while you sit in silence with the breath.

Noticing any change in the state of your body or mind before opening your eyes.