Say yes to NO.

Say Yes to NO!
 (NO=Nitric Oxide)
Today, my inbox from YogaUOnline had a link to a fascinating article on Nitric Oxide (not to be confused with nitrous oxide or “laughing gas”).  I’m no biochemist, but my interest in nitric oxide was piqued by the title of the article: “Hum Your Way to Health.”

Nitric Oxide (NO)  is a gas that our bodies produce.   It causes the smooth muscles surrounding arteries to relax, which can lead to dilation of those arteries and lowering of blood pressure.  It also relaxes the muscles in the trachea and bronchioles of the lung, so we breathe better.  

But there’s more!  Nitric Oxide helps our immune system fight against infections.  It is starting to be investigated in the fight to stop the spread of Covid-19.

As the article notes, you can do two very simple things to increase the production of NO in your body. 

1. Breathe through your nose, both on inhale and exhale, if possible.  We invite people to do this in their yoga practice for many reasons.  Now we can add another one: the cells and tissues in the nose produce nitric oxide.
2. Hum.  Research shows that humming increases levels of nitric oxide, compared to quiet exhalation.

 
By the way, humming has many benefits, including activating the “rest and digest” (calming) response and potentially improving lung function.   
 
There’s a breathing practice called Bumble Bee Breathe, or “Brahmari Pranayama.”  To do this, you’ll be inhaling and exhaling through your nose. Take a slow breath in, and on your exhale, make a low humming sound.  As always, make sure your exhale is at least as long as your inhale,  and even better if it’s a little longer. As you hum, allow yourself to feel the vibrations in your throat, mouth, nose, head, and chest.
 
Repeat this 4-6 times. Then pause and notice how you feel.
 
OR – just hum throughout your day! See how you feel.  And know that you’re humming your way to greater NO.  The nose knows to produce NO.  (I couldn’t resist!)
 
What’s your favorite song to hum?