Cooling Breath / Shitali Pranayama
Shitali Pranayama (Cooling Breath) is an effective way to cool the body and calm the mind while expelling toxins from the system. It is also said to relieve a variety of stomach and lower-abdominal ailments. Try this type of breathing on a warm day when the heat has you feeling overwhelmed.
Cooling Breath / Shitali Pranayama
- Sit with your spine comfortably extended.
- Curl the sides of your tongue to form a straw between your lips.
- Inhale through the opening created by your tongue for a count of 7. Note: – Breath count may be modified to suit your comfort level.
- Withdraw your tongue, close your mouth, and hold your breath for a count of 7.
- Repeat 5 or 6 times.
Humming Bee Breath / Brahmari
The vibration caused by this exhilarating breath, similar to the one created when chanting Om, helps you release tension by calming the body and mind. Focusing on sound and vibration also helps ground you in the present moment, filling you with peace and contentment. As you do this breathing exercise, imagine you are sitting outside on a sunny day, listening to the soothing hum of honeybees working in a flower-filled garden.
Humming Bee Breath / Brahmari
- Sit comfortably with your spine erect.
- Close or lower your eyes
- Inhale deeply for a count of 7. Note: – Breath count may be modified to suit your comfort level.
- With lips parted slightly, hum as you exhale for a count of up to 14.
- As the momentum builds, see if you can get your lips to vibrate as you exhale.
- Repeat 2 more times.