On this page
Viloma means against the natural order, and the practice earns the name. Instead of one continuous inhale you take a series of short sips with a pause after each, climbing until the lungs are comfortably full, and then let the whole breath out in a single smooth stream. It is the most deliberately artificial breath in the library, and that is the point of it.
What it is
In the stage one version taught here, the staggering is on the inhale only. You sip a little air in, pause, sip a little more, pause, and continue until full, filling from the belly upward to the chest. The exhale is then one unbroken release. Stage two reverses it: a smooth inhale and a staggered exhale.
Breaking the inhale into steps forces you to notice parts of it you would otherwise pass through. An ordinary inhale is a single event you either take or do not. A sipped one has a beginning, a middle and a top, and each has a different feel. That fine-grained awareness is what the practice trains, along with the control it takes to stop partway and start again without the breath collapsing.
The tradition uses it to build capacity and breath control, and as preparation for the retention practices, since each pause is a small suspension. What people commonly report is a clearer sense of where their breath actually reaches. Claims about measurable increases in lung capacity would need clinical evidence and are not made here.
How to practise it
-
Sit comfortably
Settle into a comfortable seated posture with a tall, easy spine, and let the shoulders and face soften.
-
Climb the inhale in steps
Sip a little air in, then pause; sip a little more, then pause; and keep climbing until the lungs are comfortably full, filling from the belly up to the chest. The number of steps is up to you. It need not be exactly three. Three is a gentle start; four or five shorter sips build finer control. This practice guides four two-count sips with a pause after each, but adjust the timings to suit your own capacity.
-
Keep the pauses soft
Each pause is a gentle suspension, not a tight grip. Keep the throat and face relaxed throughout, and don't take in so much on any one sip that the next feels rushed.
-
Release smoothly
Once the lungs are comfortably full, let the whole exhale flow out in one slow, even stream. Later you can reverse it. A smooth inhale and a staggered exhale (Stage 2).
How long and how often
The app runs five rounds with four two-count sips and a pause after each. Five rounds is a short practice by design, because every round contains several small suspensions and they accumulate.
The number of steps is yours to choose. Three is a gentle start. Four or five shorter sips build finer control and are harder. Do not aim for a large number; aim for pauses that stay soft.
Practise it on an empty stomach and sitting upright. Build slowly over weeks, and keep it short and easy if you are pregnant or manage high blood pressure, which is what the app advises.
What usually goes wrong
Taking too much on the first sip. If the first step fills most of the lungs, every later one is a struggle and the top of the breath arrives cramped. Divide the inhale roughly evenly and expect the last sip to be the smallest.
Gripping during the pauses. Each pause is a gentle suspension, not a held breath. If the throat closes or the chest sets between sips, shorten the pauses or reduce the number of steps.
Staggering the exhale too. That is stage two and a different practice. In stage one the exhale is one continuous, even release, and letting it break up undoes the contrast the practice is built on.
Filling to absolute capacity. Comfortably full is the instruction. Packing the last of the air in at the top tightens the neck and makes the smooth exhale impossible.
Who should take care
Practise safely. Build up slowly and never strain. If you feel light-headed, return to normal breathing. Best kept short and easy if you are pregnant or have high blood pressure. See our full Health & Safety Disclaimer.
Five rounds, with the sips cued
Viloma is awkward to self-pace, because counting sips and pauses while keeping both soft is most of the difficulty. PanchPrana cues four two-count sips with the pauses timed, and it is one of the 66 techniques that are free to practise in full.
Common questions
How many sips should I take?
Three is a gentle start and four or five build finer control. The app guides four. The right number is the largest one where every pause still feels soft.
What is the difference between stage one and stage two?
Stage one staggers the inhale and releases the exhale in one stream, which is the version taught here. Stage two does the opposite: a smooth inhale and a staggered exhale.
Is this a retention practice?
Not exactly, but the pauses are small suspensions and it prepares you for one. If retention does not suit you, the same cautions apply here in milder form: keep the pauses short.
Should I feel breathless?
No. If you do, there are too many steps or too much air is being taken on each. Return to normal breathing and start again with three sips.
Who should keep it short?
Anyone who is pregnant or has high blood pressure should keep this brief and easy, which is what the app advises. Stop and breathe normally if you feel lightheaded.
