Bhastrika Pranayama is also known as below breathing exercise, is one of the most vital pranayama. Somebody believes this breathing exercise is a mysterious one and not much is known about this pranayama. Moreover many people believe that this pranayama is a combination of Anulom Vilom and Kapalbhati Pranayamas.
The main aim of Bhastrika pranayama is to keep the inhalation process equal to exhalation, even making breath very and longer. Very deep breathing in wards and long exhalation in the outwards with the equal time intervening period comprise this pranayama technique.
How to do Bhastrika Pranayama (Bellow Breathing Exercise)
- Breathe in deeply through your nostrils. At first feel diaphragm move down, allowing the lungs to expand and forcing the abdomen out, then just feel your chest expand with your collar bones rising last.
- Now breathe out quickly through your nostrils. Feel the collar bones dropping, chest deflating, and abdomen shrinking as the lungs collapse. This is one of the process for exhaling which should be much faster than the process of inhaling. When you are correctly done this process, your chest will expand when you breathe in and deflate when you breathe out.
- Now continue doing for at least 5- 6 minutes. Do practice your breathing speed.
- At the very first time you need to start very slowly to avoid hyperventilating, but over time, by practice a lot you can try to turn this into a rapid breathing exercise.
Before you practice Bhastrika pranayama you need to practice each of the four levels of Nadi Sodhana or Pranayama for 3 – 4 years at least. You can practice this pranayama by slowly, medium as well as fast way as per your choice and comfortability. Whether you are one of the person who is suffering from lungs, heart or blood pressure issues, you need to practice this pranayama slowly. Try to practice under the guidance of a yoga teacher.
