With the summer’s heat it can be hard to relax and calm down with all of life’s pressures. A powerful meditation with the use of breath can not only calm us but cool our bodies as well.
In the early days when I studied Iyengar yoga, the secrets of breathing meditations— pranayamas were very rarely taught. The secrets were revealed after many years of study with a master guru or teacher. Today simple and safe breathing exercises like sitali pranayam are available to all.
Try the following technique to calm, relax and cool yourself. It also is known to release pent up anger, and aids in overcoming addiction. For example practice when the urge comes to smoke or overeat.
Sitali pranayam - cooling breath
Sit comfortably cross legged on a cushion so that the spine is straight and the knees are lower than the hips. Your eyes are closed and you keep your head level.
Open your mouth and form an "O" shape with the lips.
Curl your tongue gently as displayed in photo.
Inhale through your curled tongue - bring the coolness deep into the belly
Exhale slowly and fully through the nostrils.
Do the breathing slowly and calmly, so that the passage of air through the tongue and nostrils makes no noise. The tongue can be pulled back into the mouth and the lips closed after each inhalation.
Repeat for 1-2 minutes if you are a beginner, then work up to 5 minutes daily. If at any time you feel uncomfortable, dizzy, or anxious stop the technique.
Sitali Pranayam is cooling, and benefits the kidneys and adrenals, helps with digestion, and cleanses the spleen and liver.
