Bhastrika Bhastrika (Bellows Breathe) : Benefits, Method, Precautions, Modifications

30 Min activity

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Pranayam

Bhastrika
(Bellows Breath)
Bhastrika is a pranayama practiced to enhance your respiratory system. It is a balancing technique that will balance your Vata, pitta, and Kapha dosha. Bhastrika is a technique of breathing. It involves the process of exhaling and inhaling. Bhastrika is often called a breath of fire as it balances the heat in our body.
Practicing Bhastrika will help you to relieve your physical or mental exhaustion. This pose requires powerful inhalation and exhalation which makes an audible sound. A complete process of inhaling and exhaling is counted as one set. Bhastrika increases metabolism and improves digestion which may result in weight loss. Bhastrika is not just pranayama but it is a way to a healthy lifestyle. We can detoxify our bodies by practicing this pose. This pose has many other hidden benefits. It will clear your skin and improve the texture of your skin. Bhastrika is mentioned in hatha yoga pradeepika. This is one of the eight pranayamas mentioned in pradipika. It is one of the most important yogic postures. This pose will help an individual to get mental clarity. You can practice this pose if you want mental clarity. It produces heat in the body and stimulates the digestive fires. Unlike other pranayama, Bhastrika never rises or lowers the body temperature rather it will maintain the temperature of your body. Bhastrika will help you to balance your doshas. 3 types of doshas are defined in Ayurveda. Each dosha has its qualities. It is important to manage your doshas to improve your lifestyle and to get a good lifestyle.
Benefits:

• healthy mind and body: Practicing this pose will enhance the oxygen level in our bodies. This refreshes our mind and body and improves the overall health of our mind and body.
• Balance diabetes:  It will help in maintaining diabetes. This pose will help in the secretion of insulin hormones which are responsible for diabetes.
• Increase lungs capacity: This is a breathing exercise. A normal person uses only 50% of their breathing capacity. This pose will help us to increase the capacity of your lungs.
• Helpful in hypoxia: Hypoxia is a condition of oxygen deficiency. It is a good exercise to practice in case of oxygen deficiency.
• Activates solar plexus chakra: This is the third major chakra out of the seven chakras. This chakra is associated with fire, the power of transformation. The energy of this chakra allows us to transform according to the challenges of life. Practicing this pose will help us to activate the solar plexus chakra.
• Stabilize the prana: prana is a vital-life force. This pose will help you to stabilize the prana. It will also calm your mind and body.
• Detoxify your body: This pose will help you to detoxify your body. It will increase the circulation of oxygen-carrying blood in your body. This will detoxify your body.
• Immunity: This pose will improve your immunity. Practicing this pose can help us in the cold, blocked nose, and other nostril-related issues.
• Regenerate organs: This pose will help you to regenerate your internal organs. It will regenerate your liver, spleen, pancreas and fortify the abdominal muscles.
• Cardiovascular system and the respiratory system: This pose will help you to improve the cardiovascular system and your respiratory system. The fast process of inhalation and exhalation will warm your body and it will help you to improve overall health. 
• Nervous system: this pose will carry the oxygen to your nervous system. It will help you to provide an adequate amount of oxygen supply to your nervous system and brain. This will also help you in increasing your concentration.
• Cure sinusitis: sinusitis is short-term swallowing of the mucous membranes of the paranasal sinuses that surround the nasal cavity. Practicing this pose daily will help you to get rid of this problem.
• Asthma: the process of inhalation and exhalation will open up your lungs and help an individual in reducing the problem of asthma.
• People facing problems related to blood pressure can find this pose more beneficial.
• Three doshas: this pose will bring proper balance to your doshas. There are three main doshas in Ayurveda: Vata, pitta, Kapha. It is very important to balance these doshas for better health.

• Do not practice this pose if you recently had surgery. This pose might be problematic if you will practice it soon after your surgery.
• Avoid practicing this pose if you have a respiration problem. Holding in the pose might be dangerous to an individual who is already suffering from such diseases.
• Avoid practicing the pose if you are suffering from any kind of bodily infection. This process will increase the problem.
• Consult your yoga instructor before practicing this pose if you are suffering from acidity or heat in your stomach. This might worsen the case.
• Do not practice this pose if you are suffering from any kind of heart disease. You can consult your doctor first.
•  Avoid practicing in vertigo.
• Consult your doctor before practicing if you are suffering from high blood pressure.
• Avoid practicing this pose during pregnancy. You can confirm this with your yoga instructor or the doctor before practicing the pose during pregnancy.
• Do not practice in case of spinal disorder. When we inhale and exhale fastly we feel a gentle pressure in our spine. It is suggested to avoid practicing the pose without proper guidance to avoid any injury.
• Do not practice in case of hypertension and eye ailments.
• If you breathe more forcefully than required, then you may faint or experience hyperventilation.
• You must practice this pose under surveillance as this may lead to severe or mild injury.

• To modify this pose you can practice the pose followed by kapalbhati.
• To give yourself a challenge you can hold the inhaled air for 1 minute.