Sheetali Breathing

Yoga Exercises > Pranayamas > 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:

1. Sit in a comfortable posture, keeping the hands on the knees as a Gyana Mudra.
2. Extend the tongue and roll up each side to make a channel like a bird's beak.
3. Suck the air over the tongue and the fill the lungs completely.
4. The pressures on the diaphragm should extend down to the navel.
5. Withdraw the tongue and close the mouth.
6. Hold the breath for a while and then exhale gradually through the nostrils.
7. 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.