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External Breath (bahya Pranayama)

A vigorous breathing exercise designed to stimulate energy, break up stagnation, and improve focus.
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Table of Contents

How Does This Ayurvedic Home Remedy Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

Breathing exercises can help restore energy and vitality (prana). They clear the respiratory tract, oxygenate the blood, strengthen metabolism, invigorate circulation, and cleanse the lymphatic system. Gentle breathing techniques relax the mind. There are many types of breathing exercises. Some breathing techniques are gentle with few negative side effects, such as belly breathing. Others, such as breath retention, have potential to harm.

Read About Breathing Exercises

How to do External Breath (Bahya Pranayama)

Level: Intermediate This technique is contraindicated in instances of: pregnancy, migraine, heart conditions, respiratory conditions, and high BP.
  • Inhale deeply through your nose. First, feel the diaphragm move down, allowing the lungs to expand and forcing the abdomen out; then feel your chest expand with your collar bones rising last.
  • Exhale forcefully. Use your stomach and diaphragm to push the air from your body. "Forced" exhalation means that the contraction of your stomach muscles helps push the air out of your body. It does not mean that the exhalation should be uncomfortable for you in any way.
  • Touch your chin to your chest and suck in your stomach completely. The goal is to leave a hollow below your ribcage, making it look like the front muscle wall of your abdomen is pressed against the back. Hold this position -- and your breath -- for as long as is comfortable.
  • Lift your chin and breathe in slowly. Allow your lungs to completely fill with air.
  • Repeat 3 to 5 times.

Health Virtues of External Breath (Bahya Pranayama)

Personalized medicine systems use biocharacteristics to classify the metabolic nature of food, hebs, lifestyle choices, indivdual constitutions, and disease.

METABOLIC NATURE / BIOCHARACTERISTICS

Metabolic Nature / Biocharacteristics

Ayurveda assesses metabolic imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (vital qualtiies). Aggravating them weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which biocharacteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct metabolic imbalances before you get sick. Every biocharacteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite biocharacteristic.

Find Out More

CLEAR

ABOUT CLEAR BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Clear refers to anything that cleanses or flushes out wastes, or that digests ama.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CLEAR

LIGHT

ABOUT LIGHT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Lightness is identified by reduced weight.

LEARN MORE ABOUT LIGHT

LIQUEFIED

ABOUT LIQUEFIED BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Substances that thin fluids (lower viscosity of blood plasma). These may include blood thinners or mucolytic herbs.

LEARN MORE ABOUT LIQUEFIED

AYURVEDA BODY TYPES (DOSHAS)

The Three Doshas / Body Types

Ayurveda is a metabolic theory of medicine that explains individual health, tendencies, and disease patterns through the concept of doshas, which can be understood as your metabolic patterns and tendencies.

Each dosha reflects a distinct metabolic nature and describes strengths & weaknesses in bodily function, and how these affect energy levels, digestion, susceptibility to disease, and many other tendencies.

Your metabolic nature not only affects your physical characteristics, but also influences your mental thought patterns, confidence, and enthusiasm.

Ayurveda balances these metabolic strengths & weaknesses to support your body's vitality and prevent recurrent disease cycles. This support is a critical aid, especially in chronic or incurable disease conditions.

The 3 metabolic body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha).

Through dosha, Ayurveda empowers people to identify metabolic imbalances early, break repetitive patterns of disease, and cultivate habits that support long-term vitality and well-being.

Ultimately, these metabolic patterns also provide a framework for understanding yourself, including body, mind, and spiritual tendencies.

Find Out More

PACIFIES
Kapha pacifying
AGGRAVATES
Pitta aggravating Vata aggravating

GREEK MEDICINE / TEMPERAMENTS

The Four Temperaments / Humors

Ayurveda & Greek Medicine were the dominant form of medicine along the Silk Road from England to China and South Asia. They work by assessing your metabolic type, patterns, and nature. Greek medicine recognizes 4 metabolic temperaments, Melancholic, Choleric, Sanguine, and Phlegmatic.

Find Out More

PACIFIES
PHLEGMATIC

ABOUT PHLEGMATIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

A Phlegmatic has a cold and wet metabolic nature. The coldness implies a slow metabolism, the moisture that you are well-nourished. Phlegmatics tend towards sluggishness and thickened fluids, including mucus.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PHLEGMATIC

SANGUINE

ABOUT SANGUINE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

A hot and oily nature with a moderate metabolism and a well nourished body makes Sanguine individuals vigorous, vivacious, outgoing and generous, and prone to impulsivity and self indulgence. Bullish and intense when out of balance.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SANGUINE

AGGRAVATES
CHOLERIC

ABOUT CHOLERIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Has a hot and dry metabolic nature. Enthusiastic, vibrant and bright. In excess burns up fluids and ojas, irritable. Corresponds to high bilirubin in the blood that irritates and heats up the body and liver.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CHOLERIC

MELANCHOLIC

ABOUT MELANCHOLIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Cold and dry with a slow, variable or erratic metabolism. Colicky, tense. Withdrawn, pensive, anxious, and hesitant. Analytical, intelligent, detail oriented and creative. Prone to ojas depletion, dehydration, an overactive nervous system, and depression.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MELANCHOLIC

Other Health Virtues

Moves Energy:
Outward

OUTWARD

Outward-moving substances stimulate circulation, push heat towards the skin, or are stimulating.

SEE ALL 'OUTWARD' FOODS / HERBS

,
Upward

UPWARD

Upward-moving substances (Urdvha Gati Marga) include anything stimulating or activating, or that move upward in the body.

SEE ALL 'UPWARD' FOODS / HERBS

Affinity:
Digestion,
Energy Vitality

ENERGY-VITALITY

Includes vitality improving foods, herbs, and exercises by dosha.

SEE ALL 'ENERGY-VITALITY' FOODS / HERBS

, Heart Circulation Blood

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of External Breath (Bahya Pranayama)
Experiences are Personal
Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.

(see all)
Digestion:
Digestive

DIGESTIVE

Herbs that encourage healthy digestion.

SEE ALL 'DIGESTIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Bowel Health:
General Laxative

GENERAL-LAXATIVE

Promotes a bowel movement. General laxative is an umbrella term that refers to several different types of laxatives.

SEE ALL 'GENERAL-LAXATIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Cleanse & Detox:
Internal Detoxicant

INTERNAL-DETOXICANT

Liquefies, dissolves, decongests or dislodges internal stagnant toxins. Decongests the lymphatic system.

SEE ALL 'INTERNAL-DETOXICANT' FOODS / HERBS

Mind, Stress & Sleep:
Stimulates Crown

STRONG STIMULATES-CROWN

Creates a feeling of awareness or tension in the area at the top of the head.

SEE ALL 'STIMULATES-CROWN' FOODS / HERBS

,
Wakes You Up

STRONG WAKES-YOU-UP

Invigorates the body and nervous system, increases energy.

SEE ALL 'WAKES-YOU-UP' FOODS / HERBS

,
Stimulates Front Of Brain

STIMULATES-FRONT-OF-BRAIN

Creates a feeling of awareness or tension in the area in the forehead. Activates the frontal lobe - the area responsible for motor function, emotional expression, thinking, and decision making.

SEE ALL 'STIMULATES-FRONT-OF-BRAIN' FOODS / HERBS

,
Anxiolytic

ANXIOLYTIC

Herbs that help people suffering from anxiety or panic. They promote a state of calm and often improve sleep. Most anxiolytic herbs are also nervines.

SEE ALL 'ANXIOLYTIC' FOODS / HERBS

,
Nervine

NERVINE

Balances the nervous system. They can help with stress, memory, early alzheimer's, and even chronic pain. Often they are aromatic in nature.

SEE ALL 'NERVINE' FOODS / HERBS

Energy Vitality:
Builds Stamina

BUILDS-STAMINA

Promotes strength, endurance and resistance in the body. Rebuilds weak tissues after a time of depletion.

SEE ALL 'BUILDS-STAMINA' FOODS / HERBS

,
Refreshing

REFRESHING

Stimulates and wakes up the body, leaving it feeling cool, fresh, and energized.

SEE ALL 'REFRESHING' FOODS / HERBS

,
Stimulates Energy

STIMULATES-ENERGY

This category groups thyroid and adrenal stimulating herbs.

SEE ALL 'STIMULATES-ENERGY' FOODS / HERBS

,
Adrenal Tonic

ADRENAL-TONIC

Strengthens, supports, or increases output of adrenals.

SEE ALL 'ADRENAL-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Immune System:
Adaptogen

ADAPTOGEN

Herbs that promote stabilization of physiological processes and homeostasis. Adaptogens increase the body's ability to resist the damaging effects of stress and promote or restore normal physiological functioning.

SEE ALL 'ADAPTOGEN' FOODS / HERBS

Heart & Circulation:
Alterative

ALTERATIVE

Restores the proper function of the body by cleansing the blood and balancing blood chemistry. In Ayurveda terms, they pacify Pitta in rakta. They were traditionally used to revitalize and detoxify after a long winter.

SEE ALL 'ALTERATIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Reproductive Health:
Promotes Virility

PROMOTES-VIRILITY

Encourages virility and potency.

SEE ALL 'PROMOTES-VIRILITY' FOODS / HERBS

Foods with a Similar Nature to External Breath (Bahya Pranayama)

  • Mint

    Mint has these Actions in Common

    Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-crown, Wakes-you-up, Anxiolytic, Nervine, Stimulates-energy, Digestive, Refreshing, Stimulates-front-of-brain

    LEARN MORE

  • Ginger (Fresh)

    Ginger (Fresh) has these Actions in Common

    Digestive, Refreshing, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-energy, Adrenal-tonic, Nervine, Wakes-you-up

    LEARN MORE

  • Orange Zest

    Orange Zest has these Actions in Common

    Digestive, Refreshing, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-energy, Nervine, Wakes-you-up

    LEARN MORE

  • Ajwain

    Ajwain has these Actions in Common

    Digestive, Refreshing, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-energy, Nervine, Wakes-you-up

    LEARN MORE

  • Lime

    Lime has these Actions in Common

    Refreshing, General-laxative, Wakes-you-up, Alterative, Internal-detoxicant, Digestive

    LEARN MORE

  • Green Tea

    Green Tea has these Actions in Common

    Refreshing, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Stimulates-crown, Wakes-you-up, Digestive, Stimulates-energy

    LEARN MORE

  • Lemon

    Lemon has these Actions in Common

    General-laxative, Wakes-you-up, Alterative, Internal-detoxicant, Digestive, Refreshing

    LEARN MORE

  • Mustard Powder

    Mustard Powder has these Actions in Common

    Promotes-virility, Wakes-you-up, Digestive, Stimulates-energy, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-front-of-brain

    LEARN MORE

  • Mustard

    Mustard has these Actions in Common

    Promotes-virility, Wakes-you-up, Digestive, Stimulates-energy, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-front-of-brain

    LEARN MORE

  • Mustard Seed

    Mustard Seed has these Actions in Common

    Promotes-virility, Wakes-you-up, Digestive, Stimulates-energy, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-front-of-brain

    LEARN MORE

  • Lemon Zest

    Lemon Zest has these Actions in Common

    Digestive, Refreshing, Internal-detoxicant, Wakes-you-up, Nervine

    LEARN MORE

Herbs & Supplements with a Similar Nature to External Breath (Bahya Pranayama)

  • Bellows Breath (Bhastrika Pranayama)

    Bellows Breath (Bhastrika Pranayama) has these Actions in Common

    Anxiolytic, Stimulates-crown, Builds-stamina, Stimulates-energy, Digestive, Stimulates-front-of-brain, General-laxative, Wakes-you-up, Internal-detoxicant, Adaptogen, Nervine, Adrenal-tonic, Promotes-virility, Alterative, Refreshing

    LEARN MORE

  • Breath of Fire / Shining Skull (Kapalbhati Pranayama)

    Breath of Fire / Shining Skull (Kapalbhati Pranayama) has these Actions in Common

    Alterative, Refreshing, Anxiolytic, Stimulates-crown, Builds-stamina, Stimulates-energy, Digestive, Stimulates-front-of-brain, General-laxative, Wakes-you-up, Internal-detoxicant, Adaptogen, Nervine, Adrenal-tonic, Promotes-virility

    LEARN MORE

  • Breathing Exercises

    Breathing Exercises has these Actions in Common

    Adaptogen, Nervine, Adrenal-tonic, Promotes-virility, Alterative, Refreshing, Anxiolytic, Stimulates-energy, Builds-stamina, Wakes-you-up, Digestive, General-laxative, Internal-detoxicant

    LEARN MORE

  • Belly breathing

    Belly breathing has these Actions in Common

    General-laxative, Internal-detoxicant, Adaptogen, Nervine, Adrenal-tonic, Promotes-virility, Alterative, Stimulates-energy, Anxiolytic, Builds-stamina, Digestive

    LEARN MORE

  • Eleuthero Ginseng

    Eleuthero Ginseng has these Actions in Common

    Adrenal-tonic, Anxiolytic, Builds-stamina, Digestive, Internal-detoxicant, Nervine, Stimulates-energy, Adaptogen, Wakes-you-up

    LEARN MORE

  • Amalaki

    Amalaki has these Actions in Common

    Adaptogen, Wakes-you-up, Alterative, Digestive, General-laxative, Internal-detoxicant, Promotes-virility, Refreshing, Stimulates-energy

    LEARN MORE

  • Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi)

    Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi) has these Actions in Common

    Refreshing, Stimulates-crown, Stimulates-energy, Adaptogen, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Adrenal-tonic, Anxiolytic, Internal-detoxicant, Nervine

    LEARN MORE

  • Chyavanprash Nutritive Jam

    Chyavanprash Nutritive Jam has these Actions in Common

    Alterative, Digestive, General-laxative, Internal-detoxicant, Promotes-virility, Stimulates-energy, Adaptogen, Adrenal-tonic

    LEARN MORE

  • Shilajit Tonic

    Shilajit Tonic has these Actions in Common

    Stimulates-energy, Wakes-you-up, Alterative, Builds-stamina, Internal-detoxicant, Promotes-virility, Refreshing

    LEARN MORE

  • Punarnava

    Punarnava has these Actions in Common

    Digestive, Internal-detoxicant, Promotes-virility, Stimulates-energy, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Alterative, Builds-stamina

    LEARN MORE


Joyful Belly is a recognized college of biocharacteristics medicine.

TRADITIONALLY INDICATED FOR
THESE SYMPTOMS

External Breath (Bahya Pranayama) may temper these symptoms. The suitability of any herb supplement for a condition is highly dependent on the individual. Please see your doctor before using this herb supplement to treat a medical condition.

CONTRAINDICATED FOR
THESE SYMPTOMS

External Breath (Bahya Pranayama) may be harmful or contraindicated for these symptoms. Note this is not a complete list of all possible contraindications. Please see your doctor before using this herb supplement to treat a medical condition.

Herb Drug Interaction Risk

Here are some potential herb drug interactions with External Breath (Bahya Pranayama). Please see your health care provider for more information.

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