Yogacharya Dr. Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani often describes Brahma Mudra as his “go-to practice” whenever balance and calm need to be restored. More than a simple exercise of head and neck movements, this ancient technique beautifully aligns with modern insights from Polyvagal Theory (PVT) — a framework developed by Dr. Stephen Porges to explain how our nervous system continually responds to cues of safety and threat.
At its heart, Polyvagal Theory shows that our autonomic nervous system operates through three main pathways. The ventral vagal state supports calmness, connection, and social engagement — the body feels safe, digestion works well, and thinking is clear. The sympathetic state mobilizes us into fight or flight when danger is perceived. The most primitive, the dorsal vagal state, triggers shutdown or freeze when life feels overwhelming.
We constantly move between these states through a subconscious process called neuroception — the body’s silent scanning system for safety and danger. When we sense safety, our physiology relaxes. When we sense threat, it contracts. Practices that help restore the ventral vagal state, therefore, become vital for healing and resilience.
This is where Brahma Mudra comes in. In this practice, the head gently turns to the sides, lifts, and drops in rhythm with deep breathing and bija mantras — the primordial seed sounds “Aaa,” “Uuu,” “Eee,” and “Mmm.” These vibrations travel through the chest, throat, and skull, directly stimulating the vagus nerve, the main pathway of the parasympathetic nervous system.
As Bhavanani explains, the result is a deep psychosomatic harmony — body, breath, and mind begin to function as one integrated field. The rhythmic breath and resonant sound regulate the heart rate, relax muscle tension, and calm emotional turbulence. Even a few minutes of practice can bring an immediate sense of ease, clarity, and groundedness.
From a polyvagal perspective, this gentle synchronization of breath, sound, and movement activates the body’s “social engagement system.” It signals to the nervous system: you are safe. As the body releases defensive postures and softens into awareness, a new neurophysiological state emerges — one that supports empathy, connection, and well-being.
Dr. Bhavanani often reminds practitioners that Brahma Mudra is not just a physical exercise but a transformative shift in inner orientation. It “changes the whole place inside you from which you approach life.” This echoes a key insight from Polyvagal Theory: our physiological state shapes our emotions, perceptions, and relationships. When the body feels safe, the mind becomes open and compassionate; when the body feels threatened, fear and separation dominate.
In a world of constant sensory overload and emotional turbulence, Brahma Mudra offers a simple, accessible way to return to balance. It is both a yogic tool and a scientific method of self-regulation, merging ancient wisdom with modern neuroscience. By attuning our breath and sound to the rhythms of safety, we rediscover the essence of yoga itself — a return to harmony within and connection without.
