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Surya Bhedi Pranayama

Surya Bhedi Pranayama is a powerful yoga breathing technique that has been recommended strongly by the ancient yogis of the past. By helping to improve the functioning of the digestive system, it can provide the body with the vibrant energy that it needs. Read on to learn more about Surya Bhedi Pranayama.

What is Surya Bhedi Pranayama?

Surya Bhedi Pranayama can be described as a highly important form of pranayma or breathing exercise that is mentioned in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika. ‘Surya’ here refers to the sun and ‘Bhedi’ indicates piercing. Therefore it can be said that Surya Bhedi Pranayama is the pranayama that helps to intensify the heat energy that is produced by the right nostril or the Surya Nadi. The breathing technique helps to produce the much needed heat in the body which can help to resolve a wide range of health problems.

Steps of Surya Bhedi Pranayama

Surya Bhedi Pranayama can be performed in two different ways, namely, with or without Bandha.
Performing Surya Bhedi Pranayama without the Bandha
• Firstly, sit comfortably in the Padmasana pose or the Siddhasana pose.
• Make sure that you keep your spine and head perfectly erect with your eyes closed.
• Use your little finger and the ring finger shut the left nostril
• Breathe in deeply and slowly through the right nadi.
• Following this, use your right-hand thumb to shut the right nadi.
• Exhale through the left nostril as you keep the right nostril shut.
• This completes a single cycle of Surya Bhedi Pranayama without the Bandha.
• Repeat the breathing pattern for about 5 to 10 times.
Performing Surya Bhedi Pranayama with the Bandha
• Sit down comfortably on the ground in Padmasana, Swastikasana or Siddhasana pose.
• Maintain your spine and head erect while keeping your eyes closed.
• Use your little finger and ring finger to shut the left nostril.
• Breathe in deeply, slowly and quietly making sure that you do not produce any sound while inhaling
• As you complete the inhalation, shut the right nostril or the right nadi using the right thumb
• Keep your left nadi closed as well.
• Hold your breath as you make the Mula Bandha and Jalandhar Bandha.
• Stay in this position with the bandha for about 5 or 10seconds. It is important that you hold your breath using the lock or bandha for as much time as you can.
• Now release the Jalandhar Bandha to open the left nostril; exhale slowly as you do so.
• This completes a single cycle of Surya Bhedi Pranayama with the Bandha.
• Repeat the breathing pattern for about 5 to 10 times.

Performing Tips

Surya Bhedi Pranayama should not be attempted in a full stomach. There should be at least a break of a few hours from the time you has your last meal.
Make sure that you first learn the correct technique for performing Surya Bhedi Pranayama. An experienced yoga teacher should be able to help you with this. Unless you learn about the best technique for performing Surya Bhedi Pranayama, it can actually do you more harm than good.
While there is no fixed time for performing the Surya Bhedi Pranayama and you can do it at any point of time during the day, the best time to practice it is during the early hours of the morning as your mind is completely relaxed during this stage.

The science

In human beings, the right side of the body is associated with the Surya Nadi and the left side is connected with the Chandra Nadi. While practicing Surya Bhedi Pranayama, we focus on piercing the Surya Nadi and this helps to produce a feeling of warmth within the body. Hence this pranayama technique can be extremely beneficial for all men and women who suffer from cold constantly. Surya Bhedi Pranayama also effectively helps in managing the temperature of the body. People living in colder areas can practice Surya Bhedi Pranayama daily to stay warm and avoid diseases that result from cold.
Yoga Sutra suggests that the Sun is positioned around the navel while the Moon is located in the skull. The Moon creates a cooling impact and Sun gives rise to a heating influence. The food that we eat is digested within the intestines and this process is managed by heat. As we breathe in via the right nostril, we activate the Surya Nadi which creates heat within our bodies. Surya Bhedi Pranayama helps to awaken and stimulate the energy present in the pranic and the physical bodies. It can also work on the Pingala Nadi. The Pingala Nadi is related to the Surya Nadi or the right nostril as well as the SNS or sympathetic nervous system.
The Chandra Bhedi Pranayama is simply the opposite of the Surya Bhedi Pranayama as it helps to activate Ida Nadi. The Ida Nadi is closely associated with the cooling element as well as the functioning of the PNS or parasympathetic nervous system. When practiced on a daily basis, Surya Bhedi Pranayama can help to purify the cranium or the brain area and neutralize the imbalances that result from “Vata dosha”. Vata dosha is a term that describes disturbances and imbalances resulting from the element of wind. It also helps to remove different kinds of bacteria which can affect the body in a negative way. Repeated performance of Surya Bhedi Pranayama can help in achieving the best results.

Benefits of Surya Bhedi Pranayama

Here is the main health benefits associated with Surya Bhedi Pranayama.
• When practiced regularly, Surya Bhedi Pranayama can help to activate and promote the various bodily functions.
• Surya Bhedi Pranayama can help in the awakening of Kundalini Shakti.
• It is quite helpful when it comes to enhancing the digestive fire.
• Surya Bhedi Pranayama can clean and unblock the frontal sinuses.
• It can cure all kinds of diseases caused by lack or insufficient oxygen levels in the blood.
• Surya Bhedi Pranayama can destroy various kinds of intestinal worms and resolves diseases affecting the digestive system.
• It can help to heal various types of Vata or wind-related problems.
• The breathing technique can help to purify the blood.
• It can keep the body warm and is ideal for the winter days.
• Surya Bhedi Pranayama can bring instant relief to a person if he or she feels cold in the hands and feet.
• The breathing technique can remove signs of depression, lethargy and dullness.
• Careful practicing of Surya Bhedi Pranayama can serve as a great source of energy for the body.
• By imbibing the body with fresh energy, Surya Bhedi Pranayama helps an individual to perform all day to day physical activities in a much more efficient manner.
• It can delay the onset of signs indicating old age and keep a person young for a long time.
• It can heal infertility problems in women.
• By regulating and improving the digestive system, Surya Bhedi Pranayama can help to enhance appetite.
• It helps to increase mental alertness, boost perceptive and serves to prepare the body and mind for meditation.
• It can also help in maintaining the temperature of the body.
• This breathing exercise can greatly help when it comes to managing conditions such as asthma, cough and cold as well as other types of respiratory problems. The Surya Nadi is closely linked with heat, which is why Surya Bhedi Pranayama helps to cure health problems related to cold.
• It is ideal for patients of low blood pressure as it helps to increase blood pressure.
• Surya Bhedi Pranayama can help in curing gas problems.
• It helps to energize the Pingala Nadi which can stimulate and activate the pranic energy.
• It can work well for women experiencing frigidity or absence of sexual desire.
• By boosting the smooth flow of gall, Surya Bhedi Pranayama can reduce phlegm in the body.
• Surya Bhedi Pranayama can help in curing Leucoderma and various other types of skin-related issues.

Precautions associated with Surya Bhedi Pranayama

If you are suffering from high blood pressure or heart ailments, you should not perform Surya Bhedi Pranayama. The same applies to people who have epilepsy or who have gone through a heart or brain surgery. If you still want to do it, make sure that you consult a medical expert and a yoga teacher before performing Surya Bhedi Pranayama. Only an experienced yoga instructor can help you to master the technique of Surya Bhedi Pranayama.
So now that you have learned about the ways in which your body can benefit from Surya Bhedi Pranayama, make sure that you include it in your daily yoga routine.