Bhramari (Nasal Snoring)

Bhramari (Nasal Snoring)

Bhramari or Nasal Snoring is more difficult than the usual mouth snoring. In Bhramari, the lips are closed and vibrations of the soft palate are cause entirely by nasal airflow unlike the usual mouth snoring. In order to be able to practice Bhramari, you may start by practicing mouth snoring in order to develop some voluntary control over the palate vibration process. Approach control develops gradually. Bharamri is beneficial to Pregnant Women as preparation for labor.

Bhramari (Nasal Snoring)

The soft palate must be lifted toward the top of the pharynx sufficiently to produce flutter which may be very hard to control. The sound produced is commonly described as similar to the buzzing of a bee. Although, in Bhramari, one breathes both in and out through both nostrils, producing a snoring, buzzing or humming sound in both directions. The sound your produce may somewhat be different, inhaling produces a sound with a higher pitch than exhaling which has a lower pitch. Bhramari is customarily described to involve rapid inhalation that produces a high humming sound like that of a male bee and slow exhalation that produces a low humming sound like that of a female bee.

Sithali (Tongue Hissing)

Sithali (Tongue Hissing)

This exercise is also one of the basic breathing exercises. The breathing technique Sitali refers to the sound caused when air is drawn in through the protruding tongue folded into a tube.
Sitali (Tongue hissing)

During inhalation, curl up both edges of the tongue so that it forms a kind of tube. Breathe in through this tube. During inhalation the air passes over the moist tongue, cooling down and refreshing the throat. In order to be sure that the tongue remains moist, roll it back as far as possible against the palate. Do this during the entire exhalation so that the next breath is just as refreshing as the first. The resulting tongue position may appear more like the lower portion of a bird's beak than a tube, but variable opening or closing of the tube-like passage in the folded tongue, in cooperation with faster or slower inhalation, makes possible variations in loudness and softness and smoothness of the reversed hissing sound. Again, a cooling effect may be noted and, indeed, sought through this and the foregoing technique whenever needed. The tongue is drawn back into the mouth and the lips are closed at the end of inhalation. We can breathe out either through the throat or alternately through the nostrils.

The Three Main Bandhas

The Three Main Bandhas

Breathing is life. It is one of our most vital functions. One of the Five Principles of Yoga is Pranayama or Breathing Exercise which promotes proper breathing. Proper Breathing, in a Yogic point of view, is to bring more oxygen to the blood and to the brain, and to control prana or the vital life energy. Pranayama - the science of breath control; consists a series of exercises intended to meet these needs and to keep the body in vibrant Health.

There are some traditional techniques or aids available to prolong the pauses. These involve deliberate attempts to block breathing passages in such a way that air does not escape of its own accord when chest and abdominal muscles become relaxed. These aids are called Bandha. Bandha is a Sanskrit word related to our English words "band","bind", "bond" and "bound." Each of the Bandha employed for prolonging breathing pauses binds air in our lungs or closes and locks the air channels so that no air can escape or enter. We will look at the Three Important Bandhas. The parts of the body mainly involved are the:
glottis
chin
diaphragm
Furthermore, Bandhas or "locks" are special Postures that are adapted to conserve and make use of the vast reserves of Prana generated by the Advanced Breathing Exercises. They not only prevent the dissipation of Prana but also enable you to regulate its flow and convert it into spiritual energy. You should practice them separately for a few days before applying them in Pranayama. Jalandhara and Moola Bandhas are used simultaneously during retention to unite prana and apana. Uddiyana Bandha is used after exhalation to push the prana up into the Sushumna Nadi, raising the Kundalini.