YOGA for Beating the Heat!!!

NO ... not Hot Yoga. Yoga for for beating the Heat.

Pranayama is Yogic work with the Vital Life Force ... that would be your breath.

One of the best ways to cool off ... either physically or emotionally is a form of Pranayama called Sheetali or Cooling Breath. This time of year we often need whole being relief. A cooling of the body and a uplift of the Parasympathetic Nervous System. I found this very good simple picture and explanation.

Sheetali

The word "sheetali" means cooling in Sanskrit, it is taken from the original word "Sheetal" which is soothing or cold. The practice ofsheetali breathing calms the mind, reduces the stress or fight - flight response. It cools the body and mind, The blood pressure is also lowered. This pranayama is very effective in hyperacidity or even ulcers.

The purpose of the Sheetali breathing is to reduce the body temperature, this may have positive effect on the endocrine glands and nervous system. In ancient text of Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Swami Swatmaram says that person becomes young and attractive by practicing this pranayama. Also he says that this pranayama removes excess heat accumulated in the system, reduces the excess biles, corrects the disorders of spleen, works on fever. This pranayama gives control over hunger and thirst. It has a calming effect on entire nervous system, especially it stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, which induces muscular relaxation and is very Initially 4 seconds inhale through mouth while rolling the tongue and exhale for 6 seconds through both nostrils, this can be practiced for about 5 minutes.effective in stress management. If you are stressed then 10 minutes of Sheetali breath can calm you. So this pranayama is very effective for relaxation of body and mind.

Can be done anywhere, but if you can, sit in a comfortable position. Be tall. Unlike most Yogic breathing, this involves breathing in with your mouth.

start inhaling through mouth by rolling the tongue, make sure that the air passing in is cooled via tongue.
Initially 4 seconds inhale through mouth while rolling the tongue and exhale for 6 seconds through both nostrils, this can be practiced for about 5 minutes.
With practice one can increase the counts to 4:8, or 5:10 or 6:12 seconds
If you feel at all dizzy, because you are taking in more oxygen than you are used to, give it a rest and try again later.

A certain percentage of the population cannot roll their tongues ... very sad .. but, you can get almost as much cooling from Sitkari Pranayama (hissing teeth) Replace curling tongue with bringing upper and lower teeth together lightly, just touching and breathe in through teeth.

Give it a try and let me know if it works for you or if you are having trouble with it.

Keep cool!!

Namaste'

Kate