Besides the need to keep fit, my other main reason for taking up yoga was to help me calm my often-anxious mind. Too often I find myself filled with thoughts – both positive and negative – about the hundred-million things I need to do.
Yoga is all about relaxing the mind, as we can only achieve clarity of thought if we silence the buzz of thoughts that bug and distract us. As such, I was excited to learn the Brahmari Pranayama technique in class – a method to free the mind of self-talk and negativity.
As Master Paalu said, it is difficult to explain how to carry out this pranayama. After doing some research, here’s a summary of some tips that can help:
- Sit up straight in a quiet environment free from distractions.
- Keep eyes closed and expression pleasant and relaxed.
- Place your index fingers on your ears (specifically the cartilage between your cheek and ear).
- Take a deep inhale and as you exhale, press the cartilage gently, while making a loud humming sound like a bee. High-pitched sounds generally provide better benefits than low-pitched sounds.
- Breathe in again and continue the same pattern 3-4 times.
With practice, the mind should experience greater peace and clarity, helping us focus only on the important things that will get us where we need to be in life.
Nicole V (200hr YTT, July 2017)
