Sound is a universal key that can be used by anyone, anywhere, anytime to turn off stress and tune in to a calm energised state.
We believe that the external noise levels are the bane of our existence, little realising that it is the internal sounds that are behind the cacophony that seems to have become a part of our daily lives.
Infertility is on the rise, strange diseases are rearing their heads... all these are born out of the stress-filled environment that you seem to be swamped by.
Sound by itself has the power to overcome these stress-related issues. If you tune into your internal sounds and bring them into harmony, being peaceful and fruitful is not at all difficult.
The ancient science of yoga knows how to use sounds and vibrations to bring about healing, health and wellbeing. In the most difficult physical or psychological circumstances yogic techniques have shown to be successful. This branch of yoga is called Nada Yoga. The internal sounds are called Anahata, and external, Ahata.
In this column we will discuss a very simple technique called Brahmari pranayama. It is extremely effective in harmonising external sounds which are conveyed to your brain through your sensory organs such as eyes, ears and nose. Sound is not transformed into a unifying force just by your ears alone. All your senses conspire to turn any experience into a discordant or symphonic one. Bhramari pranayama, if practised regularly, has the potential to sharpen and tune your senses to their fullest, making you ready to proceed inwards.
BHRAMARI PRANAYAMA: This is the humming breath. The simplest way to do this is to sit in any meditative posture with the back straight. Close the ears with the thumb, index finger and middle fingers on your eye brows and eyes respectively, ring finger on either side of your nose and last on the corners of you lips. Keep your teeth loosely together and tongue resting against the wall of your teeth and lips closed. Inhale and emit a humming sound from the back of your throat, with the exhalation. Repeat 11 times.
This sound reverberates in your head, inside of your mouth, vibrating against the upper palate, gums and washing over the whole of your spine from the tip of your tailbone to the topmost vertebra resting in your head. The saliva that collects during the practice should not be swallowed. Let the tongue soak in it till the end.
BENEFITS:
1 It stimulates the entire vagus nerve, which we call the key to yoga bliss.
2 It brings about a state of deep relaxation.
3 It stimulates the thyroid gland, which perks up your metabolism.
4 It works on your hormonal system to balance the hormonal secretions thus helping with conception and childbirth.
5 It releases serotonin, the mood balancing hormone.
6 Diabetes, high blood pressure, heart diseases, paralysis, migraine, asthma are some of the problems that can be alleviated to a large extent with this pranayama.
7 The vibration stimulates all your nerves and helps to balance and calm the nervous system.
8 It’s a vibration that reaches up to your pituitary gland — the “master” gland.
9 It induces restful sleep
10 It increases focus and concentration.
Bhramari is a fitting finale to any practice and it is a prelude to tuning into the mellifluous sounds that play within called Anahata Nada, which we will look at in next week’s column.
