Welcome,
Beautiful one.
Jeanette Seely here.
Today I'm going to share with you one of my favorite pranayama techniques,
Brahmaripranayam,
Or the bumblebee breath.
In this breath,
We create the sound of the bumblebee by humming gently.
This vibration creates a soothing effect on the mind and the nervous system,
Relieving tension,
Stress,
Anxiety,
And insomnia.
It offers a state of deep relaxation and healing for the body,
Mind,
And spirit.
Brahmanry is particularly helpful in springtime if you suffer from allergies or sinus congestion.
It helps with any kind of throat ailments and creates more clarity and tone in the voice.
It's an incredible technique for enhancing memory and concentration,
And just naturally induces a meditative effect where we increase our interoception,
Or our ability to tune in to what's happening within.
This practice should not be performed while lying down.
Also people suffering from severe ear infections may want to avoid this practice.
If you have high blood pressure or glaucoma,
Avoid any pauses.
This same goes for if you are pregnant.
So you'll just perform the breath without the retention.
But in this guided meditation we will perform a very brief retention that is safe for anyone else.
You can practice this for up to half an hour,
And we're going to do it for about 6 minutes today.
So just take a moment and notice how you feel.
Notice what you are arriving with.
Go ahead and adjust your seat.
Find a comfortable position.
Notice the points of your body in contact with the earth.
Lengthen your spine.
Soften your shoulders.
Rest your palms in your lap.
Draw your shoulders a little back over your hips and your ears back over your shoulders.
So there's a long channel from your tailbone to your crown right in the center of your body.
We're going to hum,
And we're going to look for a smooth and even duration for the inhale and the exhale.
So I'll create a rhythm,
But don't try to keep up with mine.
Just find something that feels easeful for you.
It should be soft and mellow,
Creating the sound,
The humming of the female honeybee.
A few points of awareness for your attention,
You may focus on your sinus cavity,
Or you can take your awareness down into your heart.
The Shiva Samhita says that primary pranayama awakens your heart to an ocean of bliss.
So we will begin.
Taking a soft breath in,
And exhaling with a humming sound.
Again,
Not trying to keep up with me,
You may go longer or shorter,
As feels good for your body.
A Rim Mmmmmmm.
Mmmmmmm.
Mmmmmmm.
Mmmmmmm.
Mmmmmmm.
Mmmmmmm.
Mmmmmmm.
Mmmmmmm.
Mmmmmmm.
Adding on a little breath retention here,
Pausing at the end of the exhale if appropriate for you.
And pausing bravely at the top of the inhale,
Just for a beat or two.
Continuing on.
Mmmmmmm.
Mmmmmmm.
Mmmmmmm.
Mmmmmmm.
Mmmmmmm.
Mmmmmmm.
Mmmmmmm.
Mmmmmmm.
Mmmmmmm.
Last time.
Mmmmmmm.
Taking a deep breath in,
Pause for a moment at the top of the inhale.
Taking a deep breath out,
Emptying completely.
And tune back in one more time,
Noticing how you feel.
What has shifted,
Softened,
Or opened?
Brahma,
Pranayama,
The bumblebee breath.
Beginning with a practice of about 21 rounds.
And if that feels like too much,
Starting with 9 or 11.
Eventually extending this to even 30 minutes at a time can be deeply nourishing,
Healing,
And harmonizing for body,
Mind,
And soul.
Thank you for practicing with me.
Om shanti shanti shanti.
Peace,
Peace,
Peace.
