The Yogic Breathing Exercise You Can Do Anywhere (Yes, Even in a Mask)

We get it, breathing in a mask is not like breathing without one. No matter how great your mask is, it will just never be the same. But, that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice all comfort and moments of peace because of it.

If you find yourself feeling a little uneasy, overwhelmed, or generally stressed, try out this simple breathing technique used by yogis around the world to bring you back to your centered, blissful self (or at least your slightly less manic self, we see you).

This exercise is called Bhramari Breathing, or the Humming Bee Breath. It is a sweet, calming breath that is named after a giant bee in India who makes a low hum. The idea is that he is so drunk on the love of the divine that he flies in slow, lazy loops. By emulating this humming sound on our exhale, we can bring focus to our inner joy and love, pausing for a moment of clarity and warmth.

To practice this breath, take a comfortable inhale through your nose, close your eyes, and hum as you exhale. You can hum at any pitch you want, so play around with what feels natural and happy. Then, simply inhale through your nose again and repeat. You can do this as many times as you want, but 10-15 breaths is typically enough to calm the mind and uplift the spirit.

Turn to this joyful breath practice whenever you need to find a moment of stillness. Happy humming!