Surya Bhedi Pranayama

Surya Bhedi Pranayama (vitality stimulating breath) is one of the pranayamas, which creates heat in the body and counteracts imbalances of the vata (wind) and kapha (phlegm) doshas (humours).

1. How to do Surya Bhedi Pranayama – Vitality stimulating breath
2. Surya Bhedi Pranayama Technique I
3. Technique 2: with Antar Kumbhaka (inner retention)
4. Surya Bhedi Pranayama Advanced practice: (addition of bandhas)
5. Duration: 
6. Surya Bhedi Pranayama Benefits
7. Precautions while doing Surya Bhedi Pranayama – Vitality stimulating breath
8. Note: 
9. Preparatory practices
10. Types of Pranayamas  

How to do Surya Bhedi Pranayama – Vitality stimulating breath

Surya Bhedi Pranayama Technique I

• Assume a comfortable meditation asana. Place the hands on the knees in either chin or jnana mudra. Close the eyes and relax the whole body.
• When the body is comfortable and still, watch the breath until it spontaneously becomes slow and deep.
• Adopt nasagra mudra.
• Close the left nostril with the ring finger and inhale slowly and deeply through the right nostril.
• Exhale slowly through the right nostril, keeping the left nostril closed with the ring finger.
• This is one round.

Technique 2: with Antar Kumbhaka (inner retention)

• At the end of inhalation close both nostrils. Maintain the internal retention for a comfortable length of time. 
• Exhale slowly through the right nostril, keeping the left nostril closed with the ring finger.
• Slowly increase the duration of the inhalation, retention and exhalation without straining.

Surya Bhedi Pranayama Advanced practice: (addition of bandhas)

• Before applying jalandhara and moola bandhas with antar kumbhaka, they should be perfected as individual practices.
• Perform jalandhara and then moola bandha after the inhalation.
• Hold for a comfortable length of time.
• Release moola bandha, then jalandhara and slowly raise the head.
• When the head is upright, exhale slowly through the right nostril.

Duration: 

• When first practising surya bhedi pranayama, 1 0 rounds are sufficient. 
• Over time, however, as the practice becomes comfortable, the duration may be increased to 10 minutes. 
• Slowly increase the length of retention over a matter of months.
• A ratio of 1 : 1 : 1 may be introduced to stabilize the practice. Once this is mastered, it may be increased to 1 : 1 : 2 and then 1  : 2 : 2.

Surya Bhedi Pranayama Benefits

Surya Bhedi Pranayama has multiple benefits. It’s also referred to as vitality stimulating breathing practice. As the name suggests it brings vitality to the body.

• This practice creates heat in the body and counteracts imbalances of the vata (wind) and kapha (phlegm) doshas (humours). 
• It stimulates and awakens the pranic energy by activating pingala nadi. 
• By increasing extroversion and dynamism, it enables physical activities to be performed more efficiently and helps to alleviate depression. 
• It is especially recommended for those who are dull and lethargic or who find it difficult to communicate with the external world.
• It makes the mind more alert and perceptive and is an excellent pre-meditation pranayama.

Precautions while doing Surya Bhedi Pranayama – Vitality stimulating breath

• Never practise surya bhedi pranayama after eating, as it will interfere with the natural flow of energy associated with digestion.
• This pranayama may cause imbalance in the breathing cycle if performed for prolonged periods.
• Surya bheda is a very powerful pranayama and should only be performed under the guidance of a competent teacher.
• Do not practise pranayama with bandhas without the guidance of a competent teacher.
• People suffering from heart disease, hypertension, epilepsy, hyperthyroid, peptic ulcer, acidity or anxiety should not practise this pranayama.

Note: 

• The Sanskrit word surya means ‘sun’, which refers to pingala nadi, while bheda means ‘to pierce’, ‘pass through’ or ‘awaken’. Surya bheda, then, means to pierce or purify pingala nmli.