Breath Control & Yoga Pranayama Book – Breath of Fire Breathing Exercise – Ch 1
Breath of Fire Kundalini Yoga Pranayama
Yoga Breathing Exercise #1: The Breath of Fire
Free Online Yoga Video of Breath of Fire
Video is from the article: Breath of Fire Video – Free Online Yoga Videos
What Is The Breath of Fire Kundalini Yoga Pranayama:
The first Yoga breathing exercise we will explore lies at the heart of Kundalini Yoga practice, it is the legendary Breath of Fire Yoga Pranayama.
As mentioned above this breathing exercise is absolutely essential to the practice of Kundalini Yoga. The roots of this pranayama are impossible to trace but I would like to thank my teacher Ravi Singh under whose expert guidance I learned this technique.
Tools Required for Breath of Fire Kundalini Yoga Pranayama:
Just your nose :-D.
Benefits of Breath of Fire Kundalini Yoga Pranayama:
Primary:
- Quickly oxygenates your blood, thus helping the body detoxify itself and remove waste more effectively.
- Builds lung capacity and helps purify the respiratory system.
- Generates heat and increases your level of energy by activating the energy flows in your body.
- Syncronizes your entire system under one rhythm, thus promoting greater internal harmony and health.
Secondary:
- Balances and strengthens the Nervous System.
- Magnifies the benefits of exercises done in conjunction with this breath.
- When done forcefully, the pulsating of the diaphragm massages the internal organs, thus improving the digestive system.
Cautions for Practicing Breath of Fire Kundalini Yoga Pranayama:
- If you feel dizzy when practicing Breath of Fire, you should stop and substitute normal breathing. If you suffer from vertigo, you should use caution in practicing this breathing exercise.
- If you are menstruating you should not practice Breath of Fire, use Long Deep Breathing instead.
- You should be careful practicing Breath of Fire if you have high blood pressure, heart disease or suffer from stroke or epilepsy. Also, if you have acid or heat related gastric issues such as ulcers you should use caution.
How To Do Basic Breath of Fire Kundalini Yoga Pranayama:
- To practice this breathing exercise sit up in a comfortable position.
- Elongate your spine upwards, lengthen your neck and subtly bring your chin back and in like a soldier at attention. This will align the spine with the back of your head.
- Close your eyes.
- Rest your hands in any comfortable position.
- Relax your stomach muscles.
- Now begin to breathe rapidly through the nose with equal emphasis on the inhalation and exhalation. It will be like very fast sniffing. Keep the breath shallow, just at the tip of the nose. Proceed at a comfortable pace and establish a steady rhythm. Pay no special attention to the chest or diaphragm other that staying relaxed. You will find the stomach pulses on its own in rhythm to the breath. That’s it, continue for 1 minute.
How To Do Intermediate Breath of Fire Kundalini Yoga Pranayama:
- Perform the breathing at a faster pace.
- Increase the duration of the exercise to 3 minutes
How To Do Advanced Breath of Fire Kundalini Yoga Pranayama:
- Build up the pace and power with which you do the breathing.
- Build up the time for this pranayama to 11 minutes.
Secret of Breath of Fire Kundalini Yoga Pranayama:
So the trick question is, “How many breaths are you taking when doing the breath of fire yoga pranayama”? This will be of some special concern to those who believe in the idea that each of us is born with a preset number of breaths and once we finish our quota – the fat lady sings. So for those folks it would be rather alarming to practice this exercise regularly, as they would be drastically reducing their life span – but, thankfully they need not worry. The beauty of this breathing exercise, aside from its lengthy list of benefits, is that it registers to the brain as only 1 breath. So put your worries aside and enjoy the practice of this pranayama which I have found to be one of the real gems of Kundalini Yoga.
My main question at this time is i have read several times that having either all natural or vegitariun diet is the most healthy for the diet in which i dont really disagree with the all natural diets, this is for the person who just loves their meats, chicken,fish, egg. What exactly are the diet limitations for a person to be as healthy as posible.
Vaishali,
Both are good, but Kaplbhati is better…..
All the best of breath :)
Trupti
David,
Yes, don’t overdo it and see how you feel…
All the best,
Trupti
Namaste Amura-An,
Great to hear you are enjoying the website.
You are looking for Sodarshan Chakra Kriya. Here is the link – Sodarshan Chakra Kriya.
Best,
Anmol
Namaste Anmol,
thank you very much for all these wonderful demonstrations & exercises that you offer to all.
Earlier I followed the exercise where you close your right nostril and breath in through your left nostril and you say Wahe Guru 16 times in one inbreath and 16 times with your outbreath. But I can’t find it now, I spent hours to find it I keep hitting the Kundalini Fire breath instead which is not the same thing. I thought that was part of the kundalini breath?
Could you direct me please to find that again as I would like to do that along with the “Sat Kriya” one as a starting exercises. many thanks Love & golden blessings Amura-An
thanks. you’re a good guy, anmol.
which activity is more useful in reducing weight fast ?
Kapalbhati or Breathe of fire ?
Shaji,
You are welcome :)
Trupti
Padmaja,
This breath takes a little time to master and for the body to get used to it. Stick to it a little longer and see how it goes.
All the best,
Trupti
Hi Anmol
Thank you very interesting website. Can breath of fire performed in case of thyroid gland problems?
Anmol, very interesting and positive when watch your videos. I just started with breath of fire and keen to learn more in the coming up days. Best wishes. Thank you so much for the posts on web which is useful for the mass all over the world.
Hi Anmol,
I tried this breath of fire but it seems too difficult for my body.
I don’t know because my body is not used to this or me having a big uterine fibroid and other abdominal congestion is being a hindrance.
Should I approach a professional yoga teacher or can try it out gradually at my pace and see how it goes.
Thanks
Padmaja
Jon,
We start by exhalation, but there is not much difference, as it is symetric and balanced breathing.
Peace,
Trupti
Hi Anmol
Thank you very much,I am so happy that this kind of knowledge can be shared..and thank you again
I am musician and I know how is it important to feel the rhythm.In music the most sample movement is down and then up,down/up…like white and black,men and women.And my question is while practicing breath of fire from which we are going to start the rhythm from inhalation or from exhalation.And is there a difference?
Thank u Jon
Yerevan,Armenia
hi Anmol
I recently discovered ur website and I truly appreciate ur hard work and effort on making such a beautiful website. My question to you is that i manage to strain my knees and shin splints and am not able to work out anymore. I’ve been reading ur articles on weight loss etc and I find them very interesting and will definiately going to try asap but wanted some (specific exercises and remedies for my knee pain and shin splints). Can you help?.
Thanks
David,
It takes some time to master BOF. If you are inhaling too much or exhaling too much, you will have to stop and reset. Can you do BOF for longer periods while still? If so, keep trying while walking, it will just take a little time to perfect.
Peace,
Trupti
Hi,
I do breath of fire while walking; thank you for the wonderful website Ammol. I notice that breathing keeps wanting to stop. Is this natural, and what should I do about it? Anotherwards, it’s like after a minute or two, while walking and doing breath of fire, I can’t do it any longer. Then I have to return to normal breathing and try again. I find this one exercise alone wonderful in raising the kundalini.
namaste Anmol
My BP is 155/95 can i do this Breath of Fire; in the morning daily i am doing other Pranayam( just 3 weeks now ) and i want this alternately in evening.
Ishwar