Seetkari - Hissing breath🔗

By drawing the breath in through the mouth, make a hissing sound, without opening the mouth too wide and exhale through the nose. By practicing this, one becomes a second Kaamadeva (god of love) (Hatha Yoga Pradipika 2:54). He is adored by the circle of yoginis and becomes the controller of creation arid dissolution, being without hunger, thirst, sleep and laziness (Hatha Yoga Pradipika 2:55).

Often done after bhastrika. Avoid this in cool weather like winter time as this breath will cool you down.

Benefits - Same as in sheetali

Instructions

• Sit in a comfortable meditative pose with hands in chin mudra on knees or thighs.
• Bring upper and lower teeth together, lips apart.
• Inhale slowly and deeply through the gaps in the teeth.
• Listen to the sound of the air going in.
• Close the mouth and exhale slowly and deeply through the nose.
• Repeat 10 times.
• Gradually extend practice time up 10 minutes if you are feeling very hot.

Kumbhaka can be added to this technique. After each inhale, hold breath and apply jalandhara and moola bandha as long as you comfortably can. Release bandha and exhale.

Bhramari pranayama - humming bee breath

Brahmari means the humming bee. Breathe in quickly, making a sound like the male black bee, and exhale slowly, making softly the sound of the female black bee. By this yogic practice one becomes lord of the yogis and the mind is absorbed in bliss.((Hatha Yoga Pradipika 2:68).

When combined with the shanmukhi mudra, you will feel tremendous energy in the body and a deep sense of ananda or bliss within. Practice this after asana, nadi shodhana, bhastrika and before meditation. It is a good technique to use before meditation or sleep.

Instructions

• Sit in any comfortable meditative pose, close the eyes.
• Inhale slowly and deeply through the nose.
• Exhale slowly and gently, as long as you can, making the soft, gentle, low humming sound of the bee. Keep the pitch of the sound low.
• Focus on the soothing humming sound.
• Do 21 times.

Once comfortable with the technique, cover the ears using the index finger as you practice to intensify the sound and focus.

Bhramari with bahir kumbhaka and bandha. At the end of the exhale, hold the breath, apply jalandhara bandha and moola bandha as long as is comfortable. Then, release the bandhas before inhaling. Repeat the exhale with the humming sound and at end of exhale, do bahir kumbhaka and bandhas above. Do 10-21 times.

Brahmari with shanmukhi mudra. See below for description of the mudra. Practice is the same except that the mudra is applied and when bahir kumbhaka is done, close the nostrils by pressing down on them it with the ring fingers. Do 10-21 times.

CHAPTER 10 - MORE ON MUDRAS