Lately, I’ve been exploring simple but powerful breathing practices—mainly Bhramari (humming breath), Ujjayi (ocean breath), and Chandra Anuloma (left-nostril calming breath). My goal wasn’t just to “do pranayama” but to understand how each one affects energy movement, especially when the breath is combined with vibration, sound, or intention. I was also curious—can we do these practices after meals, and what happens to nervous energy or kundalini when we do them gently?
Does Bhramari Bring Energy Down?
One of the first things I noticed during regular Bhramari practice is that it helps calm the brain and bring energy downward. Not in a heavy or sleepy way—but in a grounded, peaceful way. The humming sound naturally draws attention inward. I felt that it settles head pressure, balances thoughts, and even reduces excess upward pranic movement, which I’ve sometimes experienced during deep meditation or after intense spiritual highs. Bhramari seems to settle all that beautifully.
Exhalation and Parasympathetic Response
I learned that exhalation naturally activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which is the “rest and digest” branch of our nervous system. In contrast, inhalation activates the sympathetic system, the “fight or flight” mode. So it made perfect sense—Bhramari, being done during a long exhalation, encourages the body to shift into relaxation. The longer and softer the exhalation, the deeper the calm. But more interestingly, vibration itself—even apart from breath—also soothes the nervous system.
Can Vibration Alone Be Calming?
Yes, it turns out that even vibratory sounds like humming, chanting Om, or throat-based sounds can activate the vagus nerve, which is the main nerve of the parasympathetic system. That’s why people in grief often release a throaty sound during exhalation. In the local Pahari language, this is called “kanana”—a spontaneous, heartfelt, vocal sigh. It’s not taught; it’s a natural way the body relieves inner pressure through breath and vibration. It’s actually the same principle that Bhramari uses—but made intentional and healing in a yogic way.
Bhramari vs Ujjayi – Which One When?
I started comparing Bhramari with Ujjayi, and the differences became clear. Bhramari is all about vibration on exhalation. You take a silent inhale, and then hum like a bee as you exhale slowly through the nose. The sound soothes the brain, calms the Ajna chakra (between the eyebrows), and settles any upward-rushing thoughts or spiritual overload. Ujjayi, on the other hand, is a subtle constriction of the throat that produces a whispery ocean sound during both inhalation and exhalation. It doesn’t have the same intense calming vibration as Bhramari, but it’s perfect for balancing and extending the breath during yoga, meditation, or even walking. Bhramari is great for winding down, while Ujjayi is great for staying present and anchored.
Why Use Chandra Anuloma if Bhramari Is Enough?
A very natural question arose—if Bhramari calms so well, why would anyone also use Chandra Anuloma (left-nostril-only breathing)? The answer lies in directional energy work. While Bhramari is all about settling and softening the nervous system generally, Chandra Anuloma specifically activates the Ida Nadi, the cooling, feminine energy channel on the left side of the body. If energy is getting too fiery, too agitated, or is rising too sharply without grounding, inhaling through the left nostril only can redirect it into calm, downward channels. So I now see them as complementary tools. Bhramari calms broadly, while Chandra Anuloma steers energy gently into the lunar, restful channel.
Can These Be Done After Meals?
I had another big concern—can these practices be safely done after eating? Since I sometimes deal with mild acidity or GERD, I didn’t want to mess with digestion. The good news is: Bhramari, Ujjayi (in a light form), and Chandra Anuloma are all safe to practice after meals, if done gently.
Bhramari is perfectly fine after eating because you’re not engaging your stomach muscles or doing any breath-holding. You just sit upright and hum softly during exhalation. Ujjayi is also okay if you don’t add any Kumbhaka (breath-holding) or abdominal pressure—just a gentle throat breath is enough. Chandra Anuloma, especially the gentler version (inhaling through left nostril and exhaling softly through either both or just left), is not only safe but can be digestive-friendly. It helps balance heat, settle emotional restlessness, and supports parasympathetic dominance after food.
What you should avoid after meals are forceful techniques like Kapalabhati, Bhastrika, or breath retention with bandhas, which put pressure on the belly and can disturb digestion.
Chandra Anuloma or Chandra Bhedana?
At this point, I wanted to clarify terminology. Some people refer to inhaling through the left nostril and exhaling through the right nostril as Chandra Anuloma, but actually, that’s better known as Chandra Bhedana. It has a more activating effect and may not be ideal after meals. The softer version of Chandra Anuloma—inhale left, exhale left or both—is safer and more calming. That’s the one I’ve started using in post-meal relaxation.
Final Summary in My Words
After trying all three practices repeatedly in real-life situations—after meals, before sleep, during restlessness, and post-meditation—I realized that:
- Bhramari is best when you feel mentally overactive, have head pressure, or want a complete energetic winding-down.
- Ujjayi is best for quiet presence, especially during meditation or movement, when you want to stay internally steady without pulling energy up or down.
- Chandra Anuloma is best when energy is overheated, emotionally disturbed, or digestion feels sensitive, especially after meals or in the evening.
All three are non-intense, beginner-friendly, safe, and deeply effective when practiced with awareness. I’m currently working on putting together a mini retreat experiment where we’ll explore these three across different parts of the day—before meals, after meals, during meditation, and before sleep—to see how energy patterns shift across people. The goal is to create a customized breath map for calming, centering, or grounding at will.
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, overstimulated, or simply too stuck in your head, try any of these practices. Just a few rounds of Bhramari or Chandra Anuloma, or gentle Ujjayi, can restore an inner silence that’s always been there beneath the noise.
Would you like to join this retreat experiment or receive the daily routine I’m developing? Drop me a message or comment. We’ll breathe together, from wherever we are.
Demystifying Kundalini 