Bellows Breathing (bhastrikā) is considered the most forceful and heating of the classical breathwork (prāṇāyāma) practices, taking its name from bhastrā, the blacksmith’s bellows used to intensify a forge's fire. As described in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, it is a dynamic prāṇāyāma practice characterized by equal, vigorous inhalations and exhalations, often coordinated with movement to stimulate the body's internal energy. By driving a complete exchange of air in the lungs, it helps loosen congestion and activates energy movement in the body (vyana vayu). When practiced smoothly and without force, bhastrika releases tension throughout the trunk, stills the fluctuations of the mind (chitta vrittis), and fosters a quiet, inward focus that enhances the natural flow of prana.