Bhastrika Pranayama
Bhastrika means bellows breath.
In this type of Pranayama the lungs expand and collapse like bellows of the blacksmith.
This pranayama consists of quick inhalation and exhalation and produces a lot of heat within the body. It can be performed with slow, medium or fast pace as per your capacity. However, people who suffer from high blood pressure, hypertension, pregnant women, cancer, diabetes, lung problems are not advised to proceed with the practice. Women go through their monthly menstrual periods are also not advise to practice.
The technique to perform this pranayama is as follows:
- Sit in any meditative position with spine and head erect
- Inhale quickly so as to expand your chest i.e. lungs are filled with air
- Without retaining the breath quickly exhale the breath
- Again inhale the breath and exhale as before
Perform such quick rounds of inhalation and exhalation slowly and steadily without putting too much pressure or force. Practice 10 rounds of 10 quick inhalations and exhalations which total to 100.
Practicing this pranayama leads to glowing health and skin, clears sore throat, increases lung capacity, clears doubts and mental pain, helps in depression and so on.
Happy practicing.
Note: This pranayama should be practiced with proper guidance from a well qualified yoga teacher. The author is not responsible for any injuries whatsoever that may arise from following the steps given above without proper guidance from the author.
This is really the King of Pranayama. My own experience is it heats up the body really quickly and is useful as a warm up before asana practice early in the morning. My complexion also becomes better after regular practice.