Soothing, Humming Practice for Oral, Throat, Heart and Immune Health

Soothing Resonance - humming or Bhrāmarī breath

This practice uses the yogic breathing technique Bhrāmarī breath - also known as 'black bee breath', it is named after the Hindu goddess of bees. The practice involves a humming on the outbreath to draw the attention inwards, as the vibration of the hum soothes the nervous system and quiets a busy mind. 

Humming extends the exhalation, creating vibration in the upper torso and throat. The ‘mmm’ sound created vibrates into the cerebral cortex, said to nourish the pituitary gland for hormonal and nervous system regulation, as well as deactivating the fight-or-flight response (via the vagus nerve), and stimulating production of the neurotransmitter serotonin, which regulates our mood and sleep cycles. It has also shown to support communication through the heart-brain axis.

Humming can be brought in any time within a physical or meditative practice as a focus on inner vibration (spanda) particularly in the silence that follows. It is traditionally practiced with the mudra or seal (with the fingers, as shown in the image) to draw the senses inwards, to bring in the yogic practice of pratyahara (sense withdrawal) along with the inner resonance of the hum.