Brain bhastrikas I coined –this is not the real name of them! They come to us from the Sukshma Vyayama, a collection of Subtle Movements – often practiced by yogis and sadhus in the Himalayan regions. Difficult to find it in “modern yoga” classes for some or other reason unknown to me. I learned these practices from my Pranayama teacher (Robert Moses www.namarupa.org)
Brain Bhastrikas (there are lots of different bhastrikas). These are very energizing.
They bring energy or prana to different areas of the brain. It will help your brain detox better as the pressure changes help to pump cerebral spinal fluid from the head to the spine. Also alternating between head back and head down (jalandhara bandha) helps to exercise the baro-receptors around the carotid artery regulating blood pressure.
These will benefit memory, cognition, communication, intuition and awareness.
Use your imagination! Where you put your mind our energy goes. After all we only imagine who we are!
4 practices that use Bhastrika pranayama –a faster, stronger bellows type of breath working the inhale and the exhale. Inhales are usually slightly longer that the exhales:
- Uccarana-sthala-tatha-cakra-shuddhi: Look straight ahead with head retracted. Focus on the throat / 5th charkra area — tap or rub this area. This one improves communication skills. Fix drishti downward softly.
Bhastrika 10-16x. Inhale R, hold 30s w/ bandhas, exhale L. 2-3 resonance breaths. - Buddhi-tatha-dhrti-shakti-vikasaka: Gently release head back, face up. Focus your attention on the back of your skull. Tap there. This develops mind and will power. Drishti is 3rd eye with eyes slitted.
Bhastrika 10-16x, keep head back normal inhale, exhale chin to parallel. Inhale R hold 30s w/ bandhas, exhale L. 2-3 resonance breaths. - Smarana-shakti-vikasaka: bhastrika – Head slightly down, relaxing drishti downward/outward about 6′ for so. Focus on top of skull or crown of head, tapping there. This one is to Improve memory.
Bhastrika 10-16x, inhale head to level, exhale slowly. Inhale R, hold 30s w/ bandhas, exhale L. - Medha-shakti-vikasaka: This bhastrika is down with a gentle jalandhara bandha with your eyes closed. Focus your attention on where the vertebrae meet the skull and gently tap there. This will develop intuitive intelligence.
Bhastrika 10-16x. Hold breath out briefly after last one, feeling tingly and light.
Inhale chin to parallel.
End with 3 minutes of resonance breathing or any slow comfortable breathing pace with slightly extended exhales.
Continue on with your day feeling enhanced mental clarity and focus from these practices. They stimulates brain function and can help reduce stress and anxiety, promoting a calm and alert state of mind.
