In ancient India, brahmari was regarded as a therapeutic practice that focused on the breath and had incredible benefits on the body, mind and soul. Its relevance still holds strong today; the practice helps with everything from insomnia to anxiety and is considered the perfect starting point to someone who wants to learn how to meditate.
While there are plenty of ways to practice (and reap in the benefits of) brahmari, we’ll be touching upon the most basic one here. As always with anything new, remember to give your body the space that it needs to ease into the practice - start small and gradually build up to it in time.
WHERE
Find a comfortable seating position, either on the floor or on the chair. If you’re sitting on the floor, place enough support on your pelvis so that your thighs angle down and you keep the natural curve of your lumbar spine. If you’re using a chair, scoot forward so that your thighs angle down and your feet are flat on the floor.
Remember to keep your facial muscles loose, your jaw relaxed and the upper and lower rows of teeth slightly separated. If you’re feeling agitated or uncomfortable during the practice, pause and try again after some time.
HOW
- Sit comfortably and allow your eyes to close.
- Breathe in deeply and allow your body and mind to settle in + become aware of the intricacies of the environment around (and inside of you).
- When you’re ready, inhale and for the entire duration of your exhalation, make a low to medium pitch humming sound in your throat. Notice how the sound waves move around in your mouth, sinuses and brain?
- Practice for six rounds and then slowly return to your normal breathing.
WHEN
Brahmari should be practiced on an empty stomach, so it is best done early in the morning or at least four to five hours after your last meal.
BENEFITS
Brahmari has incredible benefits on the entire mind, body and soul, especially on the autonomic nervous system. It helps nurture peace, reduce stress and dissipate anger. Brahmari also benefits the pineal and pituitary glands by stimulating them and supporting their proper function. It also helps soothe the nerves, release cerebral tension and promote a deep, restful sleep.
Written by Soha Joshi