Pranayama Techniques: Brahmari / Bee Breath

Overview

Brahmari is a vocal meditation that resembles the buzzing of a bee and helps to open and balance your throat chakra. – Swami Saradananda

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In this breath practice, you make a buzzing sound as you exhale, which naturally lengthens your exhalation and creates a calming effect. – Nina Zolotow

Purpose / Effects

Brahmari is said to:

• Clear the mind and bring a sense of inner peace.
• Soothe anxiety by lengthening the exhalation.
• Improve concentration, memory and confidence.
• Prepare for meditation.
• Stimulate and purify the visshudha (throat) chakra, leading to an improved ability to listen and communicate truth.
• “Helps to banish feelings of self-doubt as well as the urge to gossip.” (Swami Saradananda)
• May alleviate throat problems such as hoarseness and a weak voice.
• A number of sources recommend it for women in labor.

SIMPLE & USEFUL PREPARATION FOR MEDITATION

The Bee is very useful preparation for meditation, and is a simple, straightforward tool that can be used to relax the autonomic nervous system. For teachers and health professionals, this is a gentle, extremely useful practice that can easily be taught to virtually anybody. – Swamij.com

ALSO MAY HELP WITH ANXIETY, ADHD OR OCD

One of my favorite practices for initiating my own meditation practice is Bee Breath, but it has many applications for achieving and sustaining a balanced emotional and mental state. Try this practice, if you or your students and clients suffer from anxiety, ADHD, or OCD. You will find it will cut through the tangle of distracting thoughts. You will feel calm and at ease and be able to focus. – Amy Weintraub

EXPELS TOXINS

If you practice brahmari during hay fever or a common cold it may make you momentarily sneeze, which expels toxins too. We are so polite and British when it comes to sneezing, but the real blessing with sneezing is your body is expelling toxins away from you in great force! 

– yogasphere.eu

SUPPORTS SPEECH & COMMUNICATION

It is highly recommended as a practice if you are a singer, teacher or someone who has to speak in public — or if you simply would like to improve your speech and communication skills. – Swami Saradananda