Humming for Relaxation: A Meditation Practice
Dr. Eileen Yager, MD
28 July 2022
Humming is a relaxing technique because it is done on exhalation, which stimulates the vagus nerve, part of the parasympathetic nervous system that helps relax and rest, among other things. At home, hum a favorite quiet song for 5-10 minutes, breathing in through the nose and humming on the out-breath. A variation of humming is to hum one note during the outbreath until it’s gone, and repeat this several times. Drop your shoulders as you breathe/hum out. Use the same note.
