Presented by Kaya Kalp in the 7th volume of Food For Thought, the Bhastrika Pranayam is a traditional breathing exercise in yoga which is believed to increase prana or life force in one’s body while energising and clarifying the mind. Keep up the work-life balance with this technique and accelerate mindfulness by integrating the timeless tradition of Vedic wisdom.

Practice:

• Sit up tall, relax your shoulders, and take a few deep breaths in and out from your nose. Fully expand your belly with each inhalation. Begin the exercise by exhaling forcefully through your nose.
• Follow by inhaling forcefully and rapidly (at the rate of one second per cycle).
• Make sure the breath is coming from your diaphragm; keep your head, neck, shoulders and chest still while your belly expands and contracts.
• Performing a few rounds for 5-15 minutes throughout the day can help increasey your lung capacity, digestive power and boost your metabolism.
• In case of any existing medical conditions (cardiac disorders, asthma, high blood pressure) please consult your physician before practicing.