Improve Lung Health and Function with Guided Bhastrika Pranayama (Bellows Breath)

Through learning and using pranayama breathing regularly you will improve lung health and improve your lung capacity and function. Pranayama is yogic breathing, awakening life force in the body.

Before we can begin our pranayama breathing practices, we need to simply be aware of our breath in the body and feel it moving in the different areas. Please watch the "Breath Awareness to Loving Kindness" video first if you are new to Pranayama yoga practices.

Once you have mastered breathing practices of the full yogic breath, Ujjayi and Bhastrika, you may want to move on to Kapalbhati, or Breath of Fire, which deeply cleanses your lungs and diaphragm. However, don't be tempted to rush to a more advanced practice, the prior practices are equally as important as the foundations for success.

As always, just do your best. It may not make total sense to start with & I encourage you to come back to this practice as many times as you need to to get that awareness happening.

For all yoga we say wait at least 2 hours after eating, that is just as important for the breathing practices as it is for the movement practices, because we are working with and moving the internal organs.

Bhastrika is very easy to do - you probably did a version of it as a child. It is also known as the "Bellows Breath" and that is a good clue to what we will be doing. Bhastrika energises the body and clarifies the mind - & it is great for getting the lungs moving. That energising in the body can also help with weight loss through the boost it gives to your metabolism.

Focus on getting the breath moving strongly in and out through the nostrils and feel the pumping in the belly. The movement in the belly drives the breath. Aim to keep the head & shoulders quite still, while the belly expands and contracts quite strongly. Each time we come back to the relaxed breath, be aware of the sensations in your mind & body.

As Bhastrika is an energising practice, it is better to do this one early on in the day, or in the early afternoon when you need a boost. It is better to avoid it close to bedtime.

Bhastrika shouldn't be practiced if you are pregnant, have hypertension that is not controlled, and type of seizures or epilepsy, or if you suffer from panic attacks. Please follow these guidelines.

Namaste,
Susie