51 Days Yoga Consciousness Series 2nd May-21st June 2021

Knowledge of Yoga is infinite, boundless and timeless. “Learning Yoga is an everlasting journey that leads you within and Within is where you find the world of immortal bliss”. –Mitraasha

Namaste All My Yoga Yaatris! May Yog Bless You!

The idea behind running this 51 Days Yoga Consciousness series is to proffer my modest learnings and share the divine pearls of Yoga science with people at large. Let’s have a conjoint intent to learn, implement and extend the wisdom of Yoga with a positive co-action and harmonious reverberation amongst each other.

Pranayama: Bhastrika-The Bellows Breath

Bellows

The Sanskrit word bhastrika translates as ‘bellows’. Akin to how the bellows fan the fire, bhastrika pranayama amplifies the gush of air into the body to produce heat at both the physical and subtle level, thereby instigating the inner fire of the mind and the body. It is also known as ‘the yogic breath of fire’.

Bhastrika is a stabilizing breathing technique, which aids in amending any existing disproportion of the three doshas – vata, pitta and kapha. It is highly propitious for people who have kapha or water dominant body composition as per the ayurveda.  Bhastrika pranayam looks somewhat similar to the process of Kapalbhati, however  it is different from it, and unlike Kapalbhati, here both inhalation and exhalation are forced ones. Notably, it is also seen that different schools of yoga teach Bhastrika Pranayama in different ways, hence choose which practices suit your requirements best and do them.

Limitations / Contraindications

  1. Don’t practice Bhastrika on a full stomach, better practice early morning after evacuation. 
  2. As the practice is supposed to produce heat in the body, people suffering from hypertension and other heart ailments should avoid attempting this pranayama. 
  3. People suffering from fever, migraine attack, vertigo, abdominal disorders, spinal abnormalities and eye ailments like a detached retina and glaucoma should also avoid practising. 
  4. Pregnant women should also not do Bhastrika. 

For general limitations/contraindications, benefits and other do’s & dont’s of Pranayamas overall, kindly refer to this link: https://kreately.in/day-43-pranayama-mitraasha/

How to practice?

  • Sit on a mat in any meditative posture of your choice. For those who cannot sit on the floor comfortably may sit on a firm chair with a fixed and straight backrest. 
  • Maintain the body waist above- straight with back erect, spine upright, shoulders rolled out, neck and head in one straight line, chest thrown well forward, abdomen in normal contour, chin parallel to the floor and palms rested on thighs simply or holding a gyana/dhyana mudra.
  • You may choose to keep your eyes open or closed as per your comfort.
  • Now take a long deep breath and then without straining, exhale out forcefully and completely through the nose.
  • Immediately again breathe in with the same force. 
  • Keep on inhaling and exhaling repeatedly, deeply and completely, utilizing the diaphragmatic muscles with maximum vigour, but without any strain.  
  • Observe the abdomen moving out during each inhalation, whereas the diaphragm descends down, and the reverse movements occur with each exhalation, ensuring that the above movements are done with slight exaggeration.  
  • A strong nasal sound will be produced with this kind of amplified breathing.  
  • Ensure that the entire process occurs in a controlled yet rhythmic pattern with speed held as per individual’s capacity. 
  • Breathe for 10 cycles to complete 1 round and practice 3 rounds/session, with pause in-between rounds. 

Benefits

It invigorates and enlivens the overall body and the mind.  It tones and strengthens the abdominal region. Although it proves more advantageous during the colder months, people having water dominated (Kapha) physical composition and those suffering from low BP, depression and/or anxiety can get benefitted by practicing even during the summers. It is very good for lungs health, it drains the excessive phlegm from the lungs and gives relief to people suffering from recurring cough-cold, flu, other respiratory complaints, allergies, breathlessness and fibrosis. It induces a favourable effect on the respiratory, digestive, nervous and the motor system. Better oxygenation in the blood induces enhanced vitality of all the organs, especially the brain region. It increases the calmness of the mind, corrects sleep apnea, and aids relief in cases of depression and anxiety. It reinforces the immune system.

Thought of the day: “As a blazing fire turns firewood to ashes, O Arjuna, so does the fire of knowledge burn to ashes all reactions to material activities.”- Bhagwad Gita

Link to day 45: Pranayama:Ujjayi-The victorious breath https://kreately.in/day-45-pranayamaujjayi-mitraasha/

Link to day 47: Pranayama:Bhramari-Bee Breath https://kreately.in/day-47-pranayamabhramari-mitraasha/

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