Taking sting out of life stress
Exhaling involves emitting a long, soft hum that sounds like a drunken honeybee
Honey, do I have a sweet exercise for you: Bee Breath, or Brahmari, is a traditional yogic breath technique that quiets the mind and soothes jangled nerves.
Use it before bed to send you off to dreamland, or do it anytime-anywhere to take the sting out of life’s stressors as they arise.
Settle into a comfortable seated position. Lengthen your spine, close your eyes, and relax your jaw.
Rest your finger pads lightly on your head with the tips of your thumbs pressing gently into the cartilage at the opening of your ear canals.
Inhale slowly and deeply through the nose, filling the lungs to capacity.
As you exhale through the nose, emit a long, soft hum that sounds like a drunken honeybee. Feel the deep vibrations within.
Begin with three buzzing exhales. You will eventually work your way up to eight Bee Breaths.
Finish by relaxing your hands and sitting quietly for a few moments. Breath Rx Bee Breath is a safe and accessible prac- tice with immense therapeutic potential. It’s long, slow exhales tap into the body’s innate ability to relax and its mellow buzzing drowns out mental chatter. Do this practice in bed with closed eyes to welcome sleep.
Use it before public speaking as a calming vocal warm-up. New meditators may find this practice a nice gateway to sitting silently.