Cooling Breath

In the yogic tradition we have the amazingly wonderful breathing exercises known as pranayama. The Sanskrit word literally means to lengthen, control or direct the prana. Prana is our enduring life force. And we want to keep it healthy and strong!

Different types of pranayama are used to rev up the body or calm it down, heat it or cool it. This hot weather calls for a cooling pranayama known as Shitali (shee-tah-lee), or cooling breath. This exercise will cool the body in hot weather, cool the mind, and is also said to chase away hunger and thirst. 

Practice this pranayama every day for several minutes so you can learn it, then you can recall it easily when you need it when the days and nights are so hot.

Find a place where you won’t be disturbed and sit up tall on your sitting bones. Relax your hands onto your lap. Lower your eyes or close them so you can concentrate. Curl your tongue into a tube if you can and stick it out between your lips. If you can’t curl your tongue, make a circular shape with your lips. (Fun fact: this is called a “crow’s beak”) Sip breath into the mouth like you’re sucking on a straw. At the end of the inhalation, retain the breath in your lungs for several beats. While retaining the breath, close your mouth and gently place your tongue on the roof of your mouth just behind the teeth. Breathe out through your nose. Practice 10-20 times, or about 1-2 minutes. 

FAQs
How long should I retain the breath? As long as it feels comfortable. You should not get dizzy or anxious when you practice. 

Why should I put the tongue on the roof of the mouth? The upper palate is a powerful energy point that links directly to the brain. This is why the exercise calms your mood.

Why can’t I curl my tongue?! No one really knows why. Depending on the country, 65-81% of the population can roll their tongue while the rest cannot. It’s more common among women than men. It could possibly be something that is learned in childhood. Contrary to popular belief, however, recent research suggests it is probably not genetic.