What is Lion Breath?
Lion Breath is a posture and pranayama technique originating from the hatha yoga tradition, formally known as simhasana pranayama in Sanskrit. The name comes from the Sanskrit words simha (सिंह), meaning “lion”, and āsana (आसन), meaning “posture” or “seat”. The practice combines a seated posture with a distinctive breathing pattern: a deep inhalation through the nose, followed by a strong exhalation through the mouth while sticking out the tongue and making a vocal “ha” sound. The practitioner assumes a fierce facial expression resembling a roaring lion, engaging the throat, jaw, and facial muscles in the process.
Unlike more subtle pranayama techniques, Lion Breath is explicitly physical and expressive. Simhasana pranayama is considered a cleansing breath that helps clear emotional, energetic, and physical blockages from the upper body and throat area. The practice is less about breath retention or precise nostril control and more about vigorous release—making it accessible to beginners while remaining significant in classical hatha yoga lineages.
Origins & Lineage
The Hatha Yoga Pradipika is a classic fifteenth-century Sanskrit manual on hatha yoga, written by Svātmārāma. The Hatha Yoga Pradipika describes Simhasana in verses 1.50, 1.51, and 1.52. The Pradipika doesn’t mention sticking out the tongue or roaring, but the posture is often taught with the tongue extended as far down the chin as possible and with a breathy exhalation. The classical text emphasizes a more subtle approach: The version described in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika involves crossing the ankles under the body, stretching the arms out straight with palms on the knees.
According to Gheranda Samhita, ten poses are more important than other poses, and four Asanas are most essential: Siddha, Padma, Simha, and Bhadra. The Gheranda Samhita (late 17th-century) serves the purpose of an encyclopedia on Hatha yoga. Gheranda Samhita states that Simhasana “destroys all the diseases.”
The pose has also been named Narasimhasana, as in the 19th century Joga Pradipika, from Sanskrit नरसिंह Narasimha, a lion-man avatar of the god Vishnu. This mythological connection reinforces the pose’s symbolic power within Hindu cosmology. Svātmārāma traces the lineage of the teachings to Matsyendranath of the Natha tradition.
How It’s Practiced
This breath is commonly practiced in seated positions such as Vajrasana or Simhasana itself and focuses on engaging both the breath and the muscles of the face and throat. The modern iteration, more dynamic than the classical version, unfolds as follows:
The practitioner sits in a kneeling position—often Vajrasana (thunderbolt pose) or in Simhasana proper with crossed ankles. Hands rest on the knees, fingers spread wide. The spine remains erect. After a deep nasal inhalation, the breath is expelled forcefully and audibly while the body moves forward, the whole body is tensed and thrust slightly forward and up off the heels as you exhale, stick the tongue out, and roar with the breath deep in the throat.
By opening the mouth wide and putting the tongue out, you stretch your jaw, neck, and face muscles. The sound made during exhalation is just like a lion’s roar, deep from the belly. Eyes may gaze upward toward the third eye or downward at the tip of the nose. The exhalation is not gentle—it is a deliberate, guttural release that activates the parasympathetic nervous system. The force of the exhalation is increased by the mulabandha and the uddiyana bandha, bringing blood, energy, pressure, and sound into the neck, throat, and head.
The practice typically involves 3-5 repetitions, though some practitioners incorporate it into longer sequences or pair it with other pranayama techniques.
Lion Breath Today
Contemporary seekers encounter Lion Breath in diverse settings. It appears regularly in vinyasa, hatha, and kundalini yoga classes as a warm-up or tension-release tool. Teachers introduce it to activate the throat chakra (vishuddha) and to help students overcome self-consciousness—the practice’s inherent silliness serves as an ego-dissolving mechanism.
Breathwork facilitators outside traditional yoga contexts have adopted Lion Breath in somatic therapy, trauma-informed bodywork, and vocal empowerment workshops. The technique’s accessibility—requiring no props, specific flexibility, or extensive training—makes it particularly suited to group settings, children’s yoga, and therapeutic applications.
Online yoga platforms and wellness apps now include Lion Breath in guided sequences focused on anxiety reduction, vocal preparation for public speaking, and energetic clearing. The practice has been studied in relation to vagal nerve stimulation and polyvagal theory, though rigorous clinical research remains limited.
Simhasana stimulates the throat chakra (visuddha), which is the center of communication and self-expression, activating the kurma nadi. Lion’s breath clears out any pranic blockages, freeing prana to flow unobstructed through the kurma nadi. This esoteric framework remains relevant for practitioners working within tantric or energetic models of yoga.
Common Misconceptions
Lion Breath is not merely a children’s game or playful novelty. While its appearance may seem comical, classical texts position it among essential seated asanas. In the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, it is stated that simhasana, along with siddhasana, padmasana and bhadrasana, are the most important seated asanas to master.
It is not a breath retention (kumbhaka) practice. Unlike kapalabhati or nadi shodhana, Lion Breath emphasizes expulsion, not control of breath suspension. The “roar” is not optional theatrics—it is integral to the technique’s physiological and energetic effect.
Lion Breath does not replace medical treatment for thyroid conditions, throat infections, or voice disorders, though anecdotal reports suggest benefits for vocal clarity and jaw tension. Practitioners with neck injuries or TMJ dysfunction should approach with caution.
Finally, the classical version described in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika differs substantially from the vigorous, tongue-extended variation taught in most contemporary studios. The movement of energy in the version of simhasana described in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika is subtle. The essence of the lion pose is more readily apparent in another, more commonly taught version. Neither is “wrong”—they serve different purposes within the broader hatha yoga ecosystem.
How to Begin
For practical entry, seekers can explore Lion Breath through several accessible channels. B.K.S. Iyengar’s Light on Yoga provides detailed alignment cues for Simhasana, though it focuses more on the postural than the breathing component. Swami Muktibodhananda’s translation and commentary on the Hatha Yoga Pradipika (published by Bihar School of Yoga) offers textual and philosophical grounding.
Local hatha or kundalini yoga classes typically include Lion Breath in their repertoire. Teachers trained in Sivananda, Satyananda, or Iyengar lineages often teach both classical and modern variations. Online platforms such as Yoga International and Glo feature video instruction from lineage-based teachers.
For those approaching from a somatic or therapeutic angle, breathwork facilitators trained in polyvagal-informed methods or trauma-sensitive yoga frequently incorporate Lion Breath. The practice pairs well with other expressive modalities—sound healing, ecstatic dance, or vocal toning—for practitioners seeking embodied emotional release.
Begin with 3 rounds, seated comfortably, without forcing the exhalation. Notice the sensations in the throat, face, and chest. If self-consciousness arises, that itself becomes part of the practice—an opportunity to observe the inner critic and choose expression over containment.