BANSURI PRANAYAMA

by P.V.SUNITA
(BANGALORE, INDIA)

BANSURI PRANAYAMA or Flute Breath work, involves performing pranayama breath work techniques with flute. Pranayama helps us effectively manipulate breath to attain the desired state of consciousness. It also aims in fullest utilization of breath to bring back health. It’s the process of deliberate control of breath through inhalation, retention and exhalation. Performing the pranayama exercises along with the intonation of pranav mantras with the help of bansuri refers to BANSURI PRANAYAMA.All sound emanate from void beginning with the sub-atomic particles vibrating with the sound of pranav mantras. Uttering the pranav mantras silently with breath exercises is the artwork of BANSURI PRANAYAMA. The music emanating from the utterance of pranav mantras and pranayama breath work is a part of health yoga.

Pranav mantras are the seed syllables emanating from void. They include the English and Sanskrit alphabets. All sound emanates from the movement of subatomic particles spurting out of void. This is commonly compared the hand drum of Shiva, which when rattled creates a sound.

We need to connect to natural healing forces to return back to our natural healthy self. We constitute the basic elements of nature – Air, water, fire, earth and ether. Reconnecting to these healing elements helps us heal.

The rapid onset of industrialization has polluted our environment depriving us of the much-wanted natural resources in the pristine state. The depletion of natural unpolluted air has necessitated the need to be able to consume this limited resource skillfully.
We need to learn to breath to the fullest potential to get the maximum oxygen intake that’s vastly depleted due to pollutants. It also enhances the circulatory system
The three basic types of breath is neck level breathing, heart level breathing and belly blow breathing. Our heart muscles are automated to perform breathing all the time. All breath intake performed in bansuri pranayama is deep breath intake only. The breathing types mentioned here are used to release the air exhaled. Hence they are classified as below:
Neck level breathing involves breathing by pulling in oxygen to the extent of throat level; it is performed during activities like laughing and running. The body senses an urgent need to breath. There is a pronounced usage of neck muscles apart from regular breathing organs.

Concentrating on the pulling in of oxygen to the heart level performs heart level breathing. It’s naturally done when you talk, read, write and eat. Body senses a moderate need to breath. When we expel our breath we use heart muscles.
Belly level breathing is performed by pulling in air completely up to the belly level; its done naturally while sleeping, meditation and profound relaxation. Breath expellation is done with belly muscles.

Pranayama helps us effectively manipulate breath to attain the desired state of consciousness. It also aims in fullest utilization of breath to bring back health. It’s the process of deliberate control of breath through inhalation, retention and exhalation.
The basic types of pranayama are:
OM meditation breath
OM is the seed mantra through which all sound emanates.
In om meditation we intake our breath to the count of three and exhale our breath by blowing the flute resonating the word Om as in hu—oo---mmm silently while playing the flute to the count of three. We can use neck, heart and belly level breathing to release the air out. It helps attain theta state of relaxation.
We can increase or decrease the number count to the extent we are comfortable

BRAHMARI / BEE BREATH
Intake of breath to the count of three and blowing the breath out to the count of three with the help of bansuri. As you blow we make the sound zzzzz as in a bee buzz. And repeat the same procedure. It helps attain an attentive beta state like the active buzzing bee. We normally need to use neck level breathing to release the air out.
TAO PRANAYAMA
We inhale breath deeply and exhale breath by using abdominal muscles with predominant pressure on “swadishtana “ aura chakra center.
Pranav mantras are the same as that of kapalahbati pranayama mantras, for performing vigorous breathing. You can use vam chakra pranayama mantra for slow breathing using abdominal muscles
UJJAYEE/OCEAN BREATH
Intake of breath to the count of three and exhaling breath to the count of three by blowing the flute with a haaa… or aaahhh as in the sound of the resonating waves of the ocean.
It helps us attain theta relaxation state and helps release anger. Yawning /sighing is a normal activity where we perform this pranayama spontaneously.
We can use neck muscles to release the air out.

SHITKARI/WHISTLE BLOW BREATH
It’s the basic principle that lies behind playing a flute. We circle our mouth to make a tiny “o” and intake cool breath to the count of three and blow out with the flute to the count of three. Helps cool and relax the body.

KAPALBHATI /BHASTRIKA BELLY BREATHING
We inhale breath to the count of three and exhale breath by using a train puff sound shuk shuk shuk to the count of three by inhaling and exhaling breath through the abdominal muscles. We use vigorous belly level breathing. Mantras used are “ksham”, “tagu dugu”, “zoom”. For slow breathing in abdominal breathing, use “ram” pranav mantra.
Again we repeat the same process by using the exhaling shuk shuk shuk breath to blow the bansuri. It helps invigorate and energize the body system.

LAUGHING BREATH MEDITATION
We intake our breath to the count of three and exhale breath out by blowing the bansuri as in ha ha ha to the count of three. Helps remove depression. We use neck level breathing to release air out.

NADI SHODAN BREATHING
We intake breath to the count of three and retain our breath to the count of three during which we pick the flute and exhale our breath to the count of three by blowing our breath out in to the flute. It helps to detox the body system. We can perform this with all levels of breathing-neck, heart, and belly to release the air out.




All breathing is necessitated by the need of taking it in; we perform various activities that motivate us in to breathing to different levels.
Activities can be classified in to:
a) Intense pressure body works which are non aerobic like weight lifting, tennis, golf where a sudden motion of intense pressure is performed.
b) Moderate pressure activities with motion that aim to improve the respiratory airway system are aerobic in nature like dancing, running, walking etc.
c) Low pressure activities such as swimming and bansuri playing help us regulate breathe without much pressure application.
This therapy is suitable for all age groups.
You can connect to the following websites to know more about this therapy
www.soundclick.com/pvsunita
www.youtube.com/playmusickeyboard
www.youtube.com/flutesongs