breathing - Bastrika

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Sat Nam:

 

Bastrika, the bellows breath, is a forceful but long breath, in and

out through the nose, with no hold between inhale and exhale. Start

with a fast, vigorous inhalation, and inhale just as forcefully and

rapidly. The continuous repetition will imitate the sound made by

air being pumped with a bellows, hence the name. Often, the index

and middle finger are held together and straight under the nose, and

you should feel the exhaling air strike against the fingers with full

force. After 10 cycles, take a deep slow inhalation, hold for 2

seconds, and slowly exhale through the left nostril. This completes

the first "round".

 

One should now take a short rest, and then repeat the breath with as

many cycles as is comfortable per round, finishing each round as

above, and taking a short rest. If you notice that the sound of the

breath decreases or the vigor is not as intense, reduce the number of

cycles per round.

 

WARNING: No matter what, practice this pranayam with moderation and

great caution. Some people will experience throbbing in the ears or

bleeding from the nose, or dizziness - this means you should stop!

Practice other pranayam to strengthen the system before resuming your

practice.

 

Do not practice this pranayam if you have weak lungs, glaucoma, pus

in the ear(s), or high or low blood pressure.

 

Many blessings,

Sadhant