Happiness Break: A Humming Technique To Calm Your Nerves, with Priyanka Gupta

Happiness Break: A Humming Technique To Calm Your Nerves, with Priyanka Gupta

Author: PRX and Greater Good Science Center October 17, 2024 Duration: 4:21
Discover Humming Bee Breath (Bhramari Pranayama), a soothing breathing technique that uses gentle humming to promote relaxation and mental calm. It’s important to take a moment to pause and take a long, slow exhale as we navigate life. In our podcast series, "Breathe Away Anxiety," we explore ancient breathing techniques alongside cutting-edge research that reveals the powerful effects of slow, controlled breathing on our mental and physical well-being. We also share Happiness Break meditations to guide you through these science-backed methods, helping you reduce anxiety and cultivate calm in your everyday life. Summary: Priyanka Gupta guides us through Bhrmari Pranayama, also known as Humming Bee Breath. Regular practice of this calming technique has been shown to improve sleep, reduce anxiety, and support cardiovascular health. Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/549v3w62 Time: 15 minutes, or as long as it feels right. How To Do This Practice: Inhale slowly and deeply through your nose for 3-4 seconds. Exhale for 6-8 seconds, making a gentle humming sound (like a buzzing bee) as you breathe out. Adjust the timing of your inhale and exhale to find a rhythm that feels comfortable for you. Continue the practice for as long as feels right, focusing on the sound and sensation of your breath. Note: This version of Bhramari Pranayama, practiced without specific gestures (mudras), was studied by Dr. Gunjan Trivedi. Guest: Priyanka Gupta is a yoga and meditation instructor. Learn more about Priyanka: https://www.yogawithpriyanka.ca https://www.youtube.com/yogawithpriyanka https://www.instagram.com/yogawithpriyanka https://linktr.ee/yogawithpriyanka Related Science of Happiness episodes: The Science of Humming (Bhramari Pranayama): https://tinyurl.com/549v3w62 How Breathe Away Anxiety (Cyclic Sighing): https://tinyurl.com/4jyvkj4t How To Tune Out The Noise: https://tinyurl.com/4hhekjuh  Related Happiness Break episodes: A Breathing Technique To Help You Relax (Cyclic Sighing): https://tinyurl.com/3dtwyk44 A Mindful Breath Meditation, With Dacher Keltner: https://tinyurl.com/mr9d22kr

What if the things that make life feel worthwhile aren't just abstract ideas, but observable, measurable phenomena? That's the territory explored in The Science of Happiness. Each episode moves beyond simple self-help platitudes, grounding itself in the concrete research from psychology and neuroscience. Hosted by the insightful Dacher Keltner, a psychologist whose work often centers on these very emotions, the conversations feel both authoritative and deeply human. You'll hear from people who are actively testing out specific, research-backed practices-from cultivating compassion to finding moments of genuine awe-and then discussing the real, sometimes messy results. This isn't about a constant state of cheer; it's about understanding the building blocks of a resilient and meaningful existence. The podcast, a co-production of PRX and the Greater Good Science Center, translates academic findings into accessible stories and actionable insights. Tuning in feels less like receiving a lecture and more like sitting in on a fascinating experiment about our shared human condition, one where the data points are moments of connection, gratitude, and personal discovery.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Science of Happiness
Podcast Episodes
Happiness Break: Make Uncertainty Part of the Process [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:57
Through poetic reflection, Yrsa Daley-Ward helps us embrace the in-between moments, reminding us that the unknown can be the very terrain where real change begins. Settle into Stillness: Find a quiet space, get comfortab…
Happiness Break: How Poetry Helps Us Feel and Heal [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:15
What happens in your brain when you read or write a poem? We listen to powerful poetry from you, our listeners, and uncover the neuroscience of why it helps us feel, process, and recover. Scroll down for a transcription…
Why Work Feels Better Together [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:48
From a worker-owned restaurant in Oakland to a nonprofit built on shared leadership, we explore how collective work models can help people feel heard, valued, and more invested in their work. Summary: In this episode of…
Happiness Break: A Meditation For When You Have Too Much To Do [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:23
Does your to-do list feel endless? Try this short, guided practice to help you reflect, reconnect, and release the pressure to do it all perfectly. How To Do This Practice: Find a Comfortable Posture: Sit or stand tall w…
What Happens in the Brain When We Improvise [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:54
Explore the neuroscience behind musical improvisation—and what it reveals about our natural capacity for creativity. Summary: Creativity may be more natural than we think. Research on musicians and children improvising a…
Happiness Break: A Meditation For Connecting In Polarized Times [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:32
Having a curious approach to life can improve our mood, creativity and relationships. Scott Shigeoka leads a visualization exercise to help you approach someone you might disagree with with an open and curious mind. How…
How to Make Work More Satisfying [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:25
Finding ways to bend tasks toward your strengths and passions can make you happier, more productive and find more meaning in your life—no matter your job. Summary: On this episode of The Science of Happiness, we explore…
Happiness Break: How to Feel More Connected to Others [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:36
Research shows that reflecting on our shared humanity can increase self-compassion and life satisfaction while reducing feelings of isolation. In this practice, Dacher Keltner guides us to look beneath our differences an…
The Science of Love (Episode 3) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:04
Guest host Geena Davis guides us through the research on love that stretches beyond romance and friendship, showing up in our bonds with objects, nature, grief, and the collective moments that connect us to something lar…
The Science of Love (Episode 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:53
Guest host Geena Davis helps us explore how the love we feel —for our partners, friends, family, even our four legged companions—shapes our brains, bodies, and lives. Summary: On this episode of The Science of Love with…