What is Simhasana Breath?
Simhasana Breath, known in Sanskrit as Simha Pranayama, is a yogic breathing technique characterized by forceful exhalation through the mouth while extending the tongue toward the chin and producing an audible “haaaa” sound. Unlike quieter pranayama practices, this technique is overtly expressive and physically demonstrative, requiring practitioners to open the mouth wide, stick out the tongue, and release breath with intensity. The practice derives its name from the Sanskrit words simha (lion) and pranayama (breath control), reflecting both the lion-like facial expression and the roar-like quality of the exhalation.
The technique typically begins with a deep nasal inhalation followed by a dramatic exhale that engages the jaw, face, neck, and throat muscles. Practitioners often fix their gaze either at the third eye (between the eyebrows), the tip of the nose, or upward toward the ceiling. While traditionally performed in the seated posture Simhasana (Lion Pose), the breathing technique can be practiced in various positions including cross-legged, thunderbolt pose (Vajrasana), hero’s pose (Virasana), or even in a chair.
Origins & Lineage
Simhasana as a posture is documented in the tenth-century text Vimānārcanākalpa, making it one of the older recorded yoga postures. The practice gained canonical status in the fifteenth-century Hatha Yoga Pradipika, authored by Svatmarama, where it is listed among the four most essential asanas—alongside Siddhasana, Padmasana, and Bhadrasana. In verse 1.52 of the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Svatmarama states that Simhasana is “held in great esteem by the highest yogis” and “facilitates the three bandhas” (mula bandha, uddiyana bandha, and jalandhara bandha).
The Hatha Yoga Pradipika describes the posture itself but does not explicitly detail the extended tongue or roaring vocalization that characterize contemporary practice. The Gheranda Samhita, another classical hatha yoga text, also includes Simhasana among ten essential poses and notes its disease-destroying properties. The breathing component—complete with tongue extension and forceful exhalation—appears to have evolved through oral tradition, becoming more prominent in modern hatha yoga instruction.
Historically, the lion holds symbolic significance in Indian spiritual traditions: in Jain cosmology, the twenty-fourth Tirthankara Mahavira is associated with the lion; in Hindu mythology, the goddess Durga rides a lion representing mastery over power, will, and determination. The throne of Indian kings was called simhasana.
How It’s Practiced
The traditional method involves several distinct elements:
Position: Sit in a stable posture—classically in Lion Pose with ankles crossed beneath the seat, right ankle under the left buttock and vice versa. Alternatives include any comfortable seated position with an erect spine.
Hand placement: Rest palms on the knees with fingers spread wide like lion’s claws, or place hands on the floor with fingertips pointing toward the body.
Breath: Inhale deeply through the nose, then exhale forcefully through the mouth. During exhalation, open the mouth as wide as possible, extend the tongue down toward the chin, and produce a loud “ha” sound emanating from deep in the throat and belly.
Gaze (drishti): Direct eyes upward toward the third eye, to the nose tip, or toward the ceiling.
Repetition: Practice 3-7 rounds, returning to neutral breathing between repetitions. The practice typically lasts 4-7 minutes.
Advanced practitioners may engage all three bandhas simultaneously—mula bandha at the pelvic floor, uddiyana bandha at the abdomen, and jalandhara bandha at the throat—though this is recommended only for those with established pranayama experience.
Simhasana Breath Today
Contemporary practitioners encounter Simhasana Breath primarily in hatha, vinyasa, and Kundalini yoga classes, where it serves as both a warm-up technique and a mid-practice release valve. Popular yoga teachers including Adriene Mishler have created accessible video tutorials that emphasize the playful, tension-releasing aspects of the practice. It appears in studio classes, online yoga platforms, and therapeutic yoga sequences designed for stress relief.
Physicians and functional medicine practitioners have begun recommending Lion’s Breath for anxiety management and facial muscle tension. Research published in medical contexts has examined pranayama’s effects on nervous system regulation, though specific studies on Lion’s Breath remain limited. A 2016 case study found Lion’s Breath helped a child with Apert and Asperger’s syndrome improve stress self-regulation.
The practice has also migrated into secular breathwork and somatic therapy contexts, where it is valued for its cathartic, emotion-releasing properties. Many practitioners report that the technique helps overcome self-consciousness and social anxiety by requiring vulnerable, uninhibited expression.
Common Misconceptions
Simhasana Breath is frequently confused with Simhasana (Lion Pose) itself. While the two are related, the Hatha Yoga Pradipika classifies Simhasana as an asana (posture) rather than a pranayama (breathing practice). Modern usage often conflates the two, with “Lion’s Breath” referring to the breathing technique that can be performed in various postures.
The practice is not intended to be aggressive or forceful to the point of strain. Despite the dramatic appearance, the exhalation should come from controlled breath and bandha engagement, not from tension or violence.
Some sources claim Lion’s Breath can “cure” specific physical ailments or “eliminate toxins.” While traditional texts mention therapeutic benefits for throat, mouth, nose, and ear conditions, and the Gheranda Samhita states it “destroys all diseases,” these claims should be understood within a premodern medical framework rather than as evidence-based medical advice. Contemporary benefits are better understood in terms of stress reduction, nervous system regulation, and muscular release.
A small study noted that for individuals with chronic pain, Lion’s Breath can be “excessively stimulating and disorienting,” resulting in lightheadedness. It is not universally appropriate, particularly for those with respiratory issues, where forced exhalation may risk airway trauma.
How to Begin
Beginners should start with 3-5 rounds of simple practice without attempting bandhas. Sit in any comfortable position where the spine can be erect. Focus first on the mechanics: deep nasal inhale, wide-mouth exhale with tongue out and audible “ha” sound. Many practitioners find it helpful to practice alone initially to move past self-consciousness.
Accessible entry points include Adriene Mishler’s “Lion’s Breath” tutorial on YouTube (Yoga With Adriene), which provides step-by-step guidance in an encouraging, non-intimidating format. Patrick McKeown’s The Oxygen Advantage discusses Lion’s Breath in the context of breathwork physiology. For those seeking traditional instruction, working with a qualified hatha yoga teacher ensures proper technique and awareness of contraindications. Studio classes labeled “hatha yoga,” “pranayama,” or “breathwork” commonly include this practice.