Sheetali Breathing
"Sheetali Pranayama" or "cooling breath" - a pranayama technique that lowers the body temperature by inhaling through the mouth while letting the breath flow in over the tongue.
Sequence:
- Sit in a comfortable posture, keeping the hands on the knees as a Gyana Mudra.
- Extend the tongue and roll up each side to make a channel like a bird's beak.
- Suck the air over the tongue and the fill the lungs completely.
- The pressures on the diaphragm should extend down to the navel.
- Withdraw the tongue and close the mouth.
- Hold the breath for a while and then exhale gradually through the nostrils.
- Continue this practice from one to five minutes.
Caution:
- In order to be sure that the tongue remains moist, roll it back as far as possible against the palate.
Benefits:
- Sheetali Pranayama quenches thirst.
- It improves the efficiency of the liver and reduces bile.
- It also reduces high blood pressure.
- It increases coolness, brightness and peacefulness.