Bhastrika Pranayama

Bhastrika Pranayama:

Bhastrika is a Sanskrit word which means bellows. In Bhastrika pranayama, the breathing pattern resembles the blowing of bellows. Bhastrika pranayama is all about inhaling and exhaling completely so that your body gets maximum amount of oxygen.


Position :

• Sit in any meditation posture or comfortable position. Keep the palms on the knees in chin mudra. Keep the head and spine straight and close the eyes. Relax the whole body with normal breathing.

Practice:

• Breathe in by inhaling forcefully through both the nostrils. Make sure that your lungs are full with air. Once you inhale fully, exhale with great force making hissing sound. Take a deep breath in and breathe out forcefully through the nose. Do not strain.
• Repeat the practice continuously 10-20 rounds. Start slowly and speed up gradually. Maintain a rhythmic pattern of  inhalation and exhalation equally.
• When you breath in your lungs should expand, not the belly. Repeat according to your capacity.
• In Bhastrika pranayama one needs to apply force while breathing in and breathing out. You can determine how much speed to apply while inhaling and exhaling keeping in mind your health and endurance power.

Benefits :

• Helps to throw out toxins and cures illnesses of respiratory track.
• Boosts the supply of oxygen and purifies blood.
• Helps to keep negative thoughts away.
• Increases warmth in the body and helps to prevent common cold.
• Regular practice of Bhastrika pranayama keeps you away from all diseases.
• Supplies maximum prana vayu to the body. 

Contra-indications :

• Bhastrika should not be practised who is suffering from high blood pressure, heat disease, stroke, epilepsy or vertigo, hernia, gastric ulcer. 
• people with lung disease such as asthma and chronic bronchitis or who are recovering from tuberculosis are recommended to practice under the guidance of doctor or yoga expert.