What Is Murcha Pranayama? Technique, Benefits & Who Should Avoid It

Murcha Pranayama is a yoga, meditation, and breathing technique aimed at increasing mental energy and giving a slight feeling of euphoria. Pranayama involves a process whereby the conscious decision and control of breath is used to ensure the healthy movement of prana (vital life force) in the body. If you want to understand what is Murcha Pranayama you must know it is a breathing technique that helps relax the mind and deepen meditation.

Sanskrit has been translated as fainting and swooning, and thus Murcha Pranayama is also called Swooning Breath. It is called so because it causes a sense of dizziness due to the practice. Once the practitioner becomes light headed, then he is said to have lost all senses.

Meaning of Murcha Pranayama

Murcha is a name that has been derived from the Sanskrit word fainting, or swooning. The name is associated with the special feeling of doing this pranayama. During this yoga, the mind passes into a light-headed or semi-conscious state. The murcha pranayama meaning refers to a yogic breath practice that creates a feeling of stillness and mental expansion. Another name of Murcha Pranayama is the Swooning breath as it is associated with the retention of breath up to a light trance like state.

How to Do Murcha Pranayama?

Murcha Pranayama is best practiced by doing the following:

1. Start by sitting in a comfortable meditative position, Padmasana (Lotus Pose) or Sukhasana (Easy Pose). Make sure that you are straight, your shoulders are loose and your hands are on your knees. Shut your eyes down and have a few moments of resting your mind and concentrating on breath.
2. Begin deep and steady breathing slowly, in both nostrils. At the time of breathing in, you should perform Khechari Mudra by rolling the tongue backwards and then the tip goes to touch the upper soft palate. This assists in regulating the breath and leading the prana (life force energy).
3. When breathing in, tilt your head backwards gently and practice Ujjayi breathing, which involves having the breath pulled in through the throat in order to produce a soft hissing sound. At the same time, use Shambhavi Mudra, which is concentrating your eyes at the middle of your eyebrows.
4. Keep your straight, lock your elbows and press your knees with your hands. This posture will stabilize your body and all your focus will be on one thing.
5. Having accomplished the breathing, hold the breath in by Jalandhara Bandha (throat lock). In order to do this, you put your chin down to your chest forming a firm lock at the throat. Keep this posture and count as long as you are quite comfortable, and you feel the sensations of irritability of the head and composure.
6. Upon the desire to exhale, Jalandhara Bandha was released gradually. Start breathing slowly but fully, returning your head to the normal and erect position. Make the exhalation slow and regulated.
7. Pause to rest and breathe naturally at the end of one round of Murcha Pranayama. Shut your eyes and feel the impressions in your body and mind. You can experience the feeling of calmness and lightness.
8. Carry out this procedure in a series of rounds with the duration of breath retention being slowly increased as your level of comfort increases. Always pay attention to your body and do not cross the boundaries.

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Precautions to Follow While Practising

This is a more advanced method of breathing and thus you must do it well. You must do it with the guidance of an expert. 

• Novices are not supposed to practise this Pranayama.
• Unless you are in the right state of mind, then you should also not do this Pranayama.
• This or any kind of Pranayama, should not be practised after meals.

There are several main elements of the practice that should be identified. In order to be acquainted with the swooning breath we must examine some significant aspects:

Kumbhaka Breathing

This is the art of suspension of breath. It has two types. The following form can be filled in by the practitioners in order to practice successfully:

1. Antara Kumbhaka:- In this type of breathing, the practitioners withhold the breath after they have inhaled the breath.
2. Bahya Kumbhaka:- In doing this kind of respiration, the practitioners are expected to extend the breath following a breathing out. 
3. Kumbhaka:- It assists the practitioners in controlling the movement of energy besides safeguarding the brain in the process of breath retention.
4. Jalandhara Bandha:- The throat lock is called Jalandhara Bandha, in this lock the chin is pressed softly downwards towards the chest. It assists in the circulation of energy and safeguards the brain in long pauses of breathing.

Benefits of Murcha Pranayama

Murcha Pranayama has diverse mental, physical and spiritual advantages. Developing this higher-level breathing method may result in:

1. Mental Clarity and Tranquility: Murcha Pranayama is used to clear the mind of negative emotions like stress, anxiety and frustration. It causes a condition of mental relaxation and euphoria, which improves mental performance and concentration.
2. Higher Energy: This practice eliminates tiredness in the body and the mind since it increases the flow of the life force or prana. It activates the ida and pingala and the central sushumna nadi resulting in a higher vitality and energy level.
3. Emotional Balance: The swooning feeling in the Murcha Pranayama assists in releasing the deep-seated feeling that helps to bring emotional balance in individuals and feelings of inner joy. The practice may result in a more optimistic attitude and emotional stability.
4. Stress Reduction: Murcha Pranayama involves entering a condition of conscious unconsciousness and in so doing, helps practitioners to achieve an ecstatic state of stress free bliss. It may be especially useful with the stressor or emotionally turbulent.
5. Enhanced Blood Pressure: Murcha Pranayama applies pressure to the carotid sinus which can be applied to lower blood pressure in case of practicing Jalandhara Bandha. This is useful to patients who have high blood pressure.
6. Physical Relaxation: The method causes deep relaxation of the body, which contributes to the reduction of tension and headaches in the muscles, as well as fatigue. It promotes general physical health and helps to get a more restful sleep in case it is performed before going to bed.

Related Post:- What is Sitkari Pranayama

Conclusion

Murcha Pranayama is a deep kind of breathing method that promotes mental clarity, equilibrium of emotions, and rest of the body. You will be able to have a higher vitality level, be less stressed and have peace within yourself by integrating this practice in your routine. Nevertheless, to be safe and effective, Murcha Pranayama should be performed under the guidance and with the awareness of contraindications. A critical adoption of this method can be used to achieve a more balanced and peaceful way of living.