How to Strengthen Your Health in Just 5 Minutes a Day

Bhastrika pranayama is a shatkarma (cleansing practice), which intensifies the inner fire, warming the physical and subtle body. It is essentially a hatha yoga exercise. But you can practice it even if you don't do yoga. Try.

Benefits

Bhastrika pranayama is one of the most effective and fastest ways to improve a person's energy background, as this practice eliminates blockages that slow down the flow of vital energy.

During practice, the air actively circulates through the nasal and sinus passages, warming them and eliminating excess mucus. By practicing this method, you will improve your immunity and help your body cope with chronic sinusitis, pleurisy, asthma, and bronchitis.

The nervous system becomes stronger and the need for sensual experiences is reduced. But this does not mean that the person becomes less sensitive, the emotions are simply in harmony and bring a deeper sense of satisfaction.

Physiological effects:

• cleanses and tones the nasal passages;

• cleans the frontal and maxillary sinuses;

• tones the olfactory nerves and the nervous system;

• improves brain activity by stimulating the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid;

• ventilates, strengthens, and rejuvenates the lungs;

• cleanses the blood and stimulates blood circulation;

• trains the diaphragm and abdominal muscles;

• massages the internal organs, activating the liver, spleen, and pancreas;

• improves digestion.

Energy effects:

• strengthens and recharges prana (vital energy);

• adjusts internal rhythms;

• purifies the conscience;

• warms the subtle body;

• restores the chakras (energy centers).

Psychological effects:

• gives the sensation of vivacity, purity of the body, a supply of vital energy;

increases concentration and eliminates mental stress.

Therapeutic effects:

• helps prevent chronic colds, inflammatory diseases of the nose and throat, and tuberculosis;

• treats angina and bronchitis, eliminates expectoration, which blocks the upper respiratory tract;

• warms the body of those who always freeze and protects the feet from overcooling;

helps treat the organs of the urinary and reproductive system, in case of constipation, sciatica, spondylitis, arthritis, rheumatism, and even cancer.

Recommendation

Inspiration and exhalation should have the same duration and strength to avoid hyperventilation.

The effort during inspiration and expiration is not too great - during inspiration, the nostrils should not be drawn inside.

Passing through the nostrils inside and out, the air should make a not too loud sound. The sound comes from the nose, but not from the throat.

During practice, the body should remain still - only the lungs, diaphragm, and abdomen move.

Training

Before you practice Bhastrika, learn to breathe properly. When you are confident that you are doing it right, the time has come for the actual practice. You do not have to prepare before each practice - only at the beginning of the path, to understand the mechanism of respiration.

Sit comfortably in any meditation position, place your hands on your knees, and close your eyes.

Inhale slowly and deeply.

Expires through the nose quickly and vigorously, but avoids tension. Immediately inhale with the same power. During exhalation, he pulls his belly, the diaphragm contracts. During inspiration, push the abdomen forward and the diaphragm relaxes.

Repeat 10 breathing cycles (inspiration and exhalation), then relax and without opening your eyes, focus on normal breathing.

Perform 3 to 5 cycles of this kind.

There are several techniques for performing Bhastrika. Each of them is performed in several stages, depending on the level of preparation. I will report on the first stage of the basic technique.

Sit comfortably in any meditative position.

Form the Nashik Agra mudra with your right hand and cover your right nostril.

Inhale slowly and deeply through the left nostril, open the right nostril, and exhale 20 times, then inhale through both nostrils, as described in the "Preparation" procedure.

After the end of the last exhalation, inhale slowly and deeply, close both nostrils and bend your head on your chest, but do not shrug.

Hold your breath as long as you are comfortable.

Lift your head and exhale slowly through your right nostril.

Take a deep breath through your right nostril and repeat the practice - with preparation and holding your breath. This was a cycle.

Repeat three cycles of this kind.

Perform Bhastrika consciously and relaxed - don't let your mind get lost. Don't be afraid of the noise in your ears. Yogis say that after Bhastrika practice, you should "listen with your right ear and greet the sounds that appear inside, the sounds of whistles, lightning, crickets, bells, drums, etc."

Practice daily - mastering this technique takes time, but it brings colossal benefits.