There is something soothing about a low, steady hum. Many of us do it without thinking while we cook or fold laundry. In yoga, humming is the heart of a breathing practice called bhramari, often translated as the bee breath. Its soft, buzzing sound fills the head and chest, and many people find it a lovely way to settle at the end of a busy summer day.
Like all breathing practices, bhramari should feel easy and comfortable. If you have a respiratory, heart or ear condition, are pregnant or have any other health concern, talk with your doctor before trying it, and stop if you feel dizzy or uncomfortable.
Where bhramari comes from
The name comes from the Sanskrit word bhramara, a kind of large black bee, because the sound of the practice resembles a bee’s hum. Bhramari is described in classic texts of hatha yoga, including the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, a manual written in the fifteenth century that lists it among several traditional breathing practices. Today it is taught in yoga classes around the world, and many teachers share a simplified version with children as bee breathing.
How to practice
- Sit comfortably on a chair, a cushion or the edge of your bed, with your spine tall and your shoulders relaxed.
- Close your eyes. Rest your hands on your knees or in your lap.
- Gently close your lips, keep your teeth slightly apart and let your jaw relax.
- Breathe in slowly through your nose.
- As you breathe out, make a steady, low humming sound, like a bee, for as long as is comfortable.
- At the end of the exhale, breathe in again through your nose and repeat.
Start with five to seven rounds. Afterward, sit quietly for a minute with your eyes closed and notice how your body feels, without trying to change anything.
Exploring the sound
Try varying the pitch of the hum. A lower hum may be felt more in your chest, while a higher one tends to buzz in your face and head. Notice where you feel the vibration most. Some people like to rest their fingertips gently on their cheeks or throat to feel it more clearly.
A traditional variation involves pressing the small flap of cartilage at the front of each ear gently with the index fingers, softening outside sounds so the hum seems to fill the inside of the head. If you try this, use the lightest touch, never push anything into the ear canal and skip it entirely if it feels uncomfortable or if you have any ear concerns.
When to try it
Bhramari fits well into an evening routine: after a shower, before reading in bed or at the end of a long day when you want to shift gears. Because the sound can carry, many people prefer a quiet room where they will not feel self-conscious. It can also be a fun practice to share with children, who often enjoy pretending to be bees and seeing how long they can make their buzz last.
There is no need to do it perfectly. The point is simply to breathe slowly, enjoy the sound and let the hum mark the moment when the day begins to wind down.