If you’ve visited us at the Healing House, you’ve likely noticed the intentionally designed wallpaper in our bathroom, featuring bees and hidden messages. Like everything at Londolozi, this design was created with thought and purpose.
We value the essence of the bee and all that it symbolizes. At Londolozi, we hope that in drawing attention to smaller creatures, you’ll remember that while the larger predators and mammals may be what brought you here, there are interconnected wonders all around. Each creature has its place in the ecosystem, and it’s easy to miss these small yet meaningful lives. Bees remind us that, no matter how small we may feel, each of us plays a role in a greater purpose.
Bee Breath: Connecting Breath and Healing
One of the breathing practices we teach at the Healing House is Bhramari Pranayama, or “Bee Breath.” This technique, inspired by the gentle hum of bees, is a simple yet powerful way to promote calm and well-being.
Bees may be small, but their impact is vast. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, a third of the world’s food production depends on bees. When bees and other pollinators transfer pollen between flowers, they enable plants, including many food crops, to reproduce. Bees are a vital part of the biodiversity on which we all depend.
The Power of Bee Vibrations
Bees create a symphony of sound when they move their wings. This unique buzz has a frequency of approximately 200-400 Hertz. What is even more fascinating is that the vibrational frequency of a bees buzz isn’t just an auditory delight; it possesses therapeutic potential. Studies suggest that the vibrations from a busy beehive can help calm and lower human cortisol levels, promoting relaxation and reducing stress.
Philosophers like Rudolf Steiner have drawn fascinating connections between the structure of beeswax and human anatomy. Steiner compared beeswax to our own bodily materials, likening worker bees to blood flowing through our veins and the hexagonal shapes of the honeycomb to our cells. The honeycomb’s hexagonal structure—a model of strength and efficiency—reminds us of nature’s intricate design. It is the perfect shape, the one that holds together in strength and efficiency. The worker bees create their city of hexagons in tandem, each bee following their inherent plan of geometric repetition.
ANAHATA Heart Chakra
The honeycomb’s hexagonal cells are a reflection of geometric precision. In fact, the hexagram (six-pointed star) is associated with the heart chakra, or Anahata, in ancient traditions. Practicing Bee Breath aligns us with this natural pattern, enhancing heart coherence and Heart Rate Variability (HRV), which supports resilience and calm.
Our land manager, Chris Goodman, is also a beekeeper, nurturing this connection with nature. His work in harvesting honey brings us full circle with the symbolic and physical nourishment bees provide.
How to Practice Bee Breath (Bhramari Pranayama)
This simple, self-healing breathing technique can help calm the mind and boost immunity. It’s also beneficial for respiratory health. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
- Begin by Breathing In: Close your mouth and breathe gently through your nose. Rest the tip of your tongue behind your upper front teeth.
- Cover Your Ears and Eyes: For a more advanced practice, gently close your ears and eyes with your fingers.
- Hum as You Exhale: Slowly exhale while making a sustained “hmmmmmm…” sound. Avoid forcing the breath; let it flow naturally.
- Repeat and Relax: Breathe in gently and repeat the hum. For an enhanced effect, you can massage your sinuses around your nose, temples, and above your eyes while practicing.
If you’re feeling under the weather with sinus issues or respiratory discomfort, try practicing Bee Breath for 5-10 minutes, two to four times daily. The vibrations help increase air circulation and nitric oxide (NO) production in your nasal cavities.
The Role of Nitric Oxide (NO) in Health
Nitric oxide, produced in the paranasal sinuses, plays an essential role in respiratory and immune health. Humming can increase nitric oxide levels up to 15-20 times, which helps to open airways and combat pathogens. NO is a powerful bronchodilator and vasodilator, promoting oxygen distribution throughout the body.
- Nitric Oxide (NO) is produced in the paranasal sinuses and carried into the lungs during nasal breathing.
- NO is known to be broadly antifungal, antiviral and antibacterial.
- NO is a bronchodilator helping open nasal passages bronchi and bronchioles in the lungs.
- NO is also a vasodilator playing an important role in the dilation of blood vessels so that oxygen can be properly distributed throughout the body.
- Gentle nasal breathing optimizes NO levels in airways and blood.
- Humming leads to a 15 to 20-fold increase in NO levels helping to open up airways and kill pathogens.
- Hear Rate Variability will improve
Nitric oxide is a free radical molecule produced by your body that provides a defence against invaders that can make you sick. It also controls many types of immune cells and helps these cells communicate and react more quickly to invaders.
Regular practice of Bee Breath can help to improve Heart Rate Variability, increase resilience, and bring a sense of peace—a beautiful tribute to the small but mighty bee.
Christina, you are just full of wonderful, healthful, and calming advice. Bee breath is really a great way to calm our bodies.
Hi, the first animal I saw and fell.in love with as a small child was a bee buzzing around in my dining room… I still remember the wonder of the bright colours, the relaxing noise and the big attracting eyes. I feel I was looking at a small masterpiece of nature. They have many abilities and there are several studies about their complex behaviour. I agree with Rudolf Steiner, I’ve followed him for years.
A really interesting and helpful blog on this way of breathing.
Christina, first of all thank you for this truly informative blog. It was fascinating to read about bees and how important they are not only to the biodiversity of in nature in which we all depend, but more interestingly, how the humming sound of bees can help humans with breathing, or even stress. Before responding to your blog I decided to try the Bee breath. I found it to be very soothing as well as an easy practice. Going into winter here it could be a way to support respiratory health.