The Science of Happiness

The Science of Humming


Listen Later

Did you know humming can soothe your nervous system?  We explore the stress-relieving power of Bhramari Pranayama, also known as humming bee breath, with marathon runner and activist Cal Calamia.

Summary: Cal Calamia, the first nonbinary winner of the San Francisco Marathon, explores Bhramari Pranayama, an ancient yogic breathing technique that uses humming to promote relaxation. Dr. Gunjan Trivedi later explains how this "humming bee breath" enhances heart rate variability and why it’s key to managing stress. Part of our ongoing series, Breathe Away Anxiety: https://tinyurl.com/4jyvkj4t

Time: 15 minutes, or as long as it feels right.

How To Do This Practice:

  1. Inhale slowly and deeply through your nose for 3-4 seconds.
  2. Exhale for 6-8 seconds, making a gentle humming sound (like a buzzing bee) as you breathe out.
  3. Adjust the timing of your inhale and exhale to find a rhythm that feels comfortable for you.
  4. Continue the practice for as long as feels right, focusing on the sound and sensation of your breath.
  5. Note: This version of Bhramari Pranayama, practiced without specific hand gestures (mudras), was studied by Dr. Gunjan Trivedi.

    Guest: Cal Calamia is an activist, teacher, poet, and the first nonbinary winner of the San Francisco marathon.
    Learn more about Cal: https://tinyurl.com/25ft296x

    Guest: Dr. Gunjan Trivedi is the cofounder of Society for Energy & Emotions at Wellness Space in Ahmedabad, India.
    Learn more about Dr. Trivedi and Wellness Space: https://tinyurl.com/r53x6x3x
    Read Dr. Trivedi's study about Bhramari Pranayama: https://tinyurl.com/2xnjk6ah

    Related Science of Happiness episodes:
    How Breathe Away Anxiety (Cyclic Sighing): https://tinyurl.com/4jyvkj4t
    How To Tune Out The Noise: https://tinyurl.com/4hhekjuh 

    Related Happiness Break episodes:
    Happiness Break: A Breathing Technique To Help You Relax (Cyclic Sighing): https://tinyurl.com/3dtwyk44
    A Mindful Breath Meditation, With Dacher Keltner: https://tinyurl.com/mr9d22kr

    Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/4esyy6nd

    ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store

    The Science of HappinessBy PRX and Greater Good Science Center

    • 4.5
    • 4.5
    • 4.5
    • 4.5
    • 4.5

    4.5

    1,814 ratings


    More shows like The Science of Happiness

    View all
    Living on Earth by World Media Foundation

    Living on Earth

    465 Listeners

    Studio 360 with Kurt Andersen by PRX

    Studio 360 with Kurt Andersen

    665 Listeners

    Latino USA by Futuro Media and PRX

    Latino USA

    3,748 Listeners

    Afropop Worldwide by Afropop Worldwide

    Afropop Worldwide

    308 Listeners

    On Being with Krista Tippett by On Being Studios

    On Being with Krista Tippett

    10,369 Listeners

    Live Wire with Luke Burbank by PRX

    Live Wire with Luke Burbank

    317 Listeners

    The World by PRX

    The World

    914 Listeners

    Snap Judgment by Snap Judgment and PRX

    Snap Judgment

    11,543 Listeners

    Sounds True: Insights at the Edge by Tami Simon

    Sounds True: Insights at the Edge

    1,832 Listeners

    Good Life Project by Jonathan Fields / Acast

    Good Life Project

    3,284 Listeners

    The One You Feed by iHeartPodcasts

    The One You Feed

    2,505 Listeners

    Reveal by The Center for Investigative Reporting and PRX

    Reveal

    8,245 Listeners

    The Psychology Podcast by iHeartPodcasts

    The Psychology Podcast

    1,845 Listeners

    Hidden Brain by Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam

    Hidden Brain

    43,474 Listeners

    Untangle by Untangle

    Untangle

    829 Listeners

    10% Happier with Dan Harris by 10% Happier

    10% Happier with Dan Harris

    12,531 Listeners

    Being Well with Forrest Hanson and Dr. Rick Hanson by Rick Hanson, Ph.D., Forrest Hanson

    Being Well with Forrest Hanson and Dr. Rick Hanson

    2,419 Listeners

    The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos by Pushkin Industries

    The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos

    14,432 Listeners

    Unlocking Us with Brené Brown by Vox Media Podcast Network

    Unlocking Us with Brené Brown

    23,622 Listeners

    How to Be a Better Human by TED

    How to Be a Better Human

    1,359 Listeners

    Suave by Futuro Media

    Suave

    1,506 Listeners

    A Slight Change of Plans by Pushkin Industries

    A Slight Change of Plans

    2,041 Listeners

    We Can Do Hard Things by Glennon Doyle and Audacy

    We Can Do Hard Things

    41,349 Listeners

    How to Age Up by The Atlantic

    How to Age Up

    1,435 Listeners