Hum for Peace
What benefits are there from humming? A simple practice anyone can do almost anytime of day, hum for peace!
Nasal breathing has many benefits such as increasing the oxygen in your bloodstream by 20%, filtering out bacteria and germs before entering the lung tissue, decreasing allergy symptoms and improving sleep and concentration.
Brahmari Pranayama or Humming Bee Breath
Brahmari Pranayam is done by inhaling through the nose and exhaling with a humming sound in the throat through sealed lips. You can also close your eyes or cover your eyes with your fingers while plugging both ears to close out all external stimulus and bring your attention even more fully inward to observe the vibration throughout the body. (Great for when or your children you are overstimulated). The humming helps naturally extend the exhale which allows our autonomic nervous system to relax moving us into the parasympathetic nervous system.
Think about it: What do we do when we want to soothe a baby? Hum! What do we do when we are happy? Sing, hum, chant, and/or prayer! The vibration is soothing to our nervous system calming us down.
A study in Pubmed found that nitrous oxide (NO) increased by 15% when humming on the exhale. So what is NO? NO is produced in the sinuses and is said to be an anti-inflammatory and repair agent for the respiratory and digestive system. When nasal breathing we drive NO enriched blood into the lower lobes of the lungs and out into our bloodstream. Sounds like the perfect solution for COVID prevention and recovery!
Other Awesome benefits:
*Reduces stress and anxiety
*Activates the throat chakra and thyroid
*Improves sleep
*Supports healing in the body
*Lowers blood pressure, dissipating anger
*Stimulates the vagus nerve, pituitary and pineal glands
*Quiets the mind
*Cleans the sinuses
*Is a great practice for COVID and COVID recovery symptoms
*Fun for all ages! Try it for up to 5 minutes while in a yoga pose, before bed, while taking a bath, before meditation, or with your kids.
Hum for peace. Sit for a few moments after the practice and notice what sensations are present. How has your mood, energy, breathing changed? I’m betting you feel great after.
Looking for some of these benefits above? A yoga therapist can help co-create a tailored plan that helps you reach your health goals. Schedule a consult with me today! Watch the video of humming bee breath here and subscribe to my channel for more beneficial breathing and movement practices!
