A quick and simple breath exercise to keep you cool

The breath. On the one hand, we can breathe unconsciously every day of our lives, never fully realize its potential, and be somewhat okay. On the other hand, we can delve into the world of pranayam and conscious breathing and turn it into magic for our well-being. It can upgrade your state of mind, bring you into a relaxed-energized state, open doors, detoxify, and heal you.

It is said that the breadth and depth at which we breathe correlates to the breadth and depth that we are able to experience life. When we are born a healthy baby, we breathe diaphragmatically, fully and deeply. When we die, we stop breathing. There’s a full spectrum in between, and when we barely breathe, or when we hyperventilate, it feels like death. ?

I often remind my students to take their inhales down past the diaphragm as they expand their rib cage and core in every direction, and then on the exhale, to bring the body back in towards the spine as they keep the spine long. This is the long deep breath, and it is applied to every other breath technique.?

When it gets hot, you need something to cool you down. We could be talking about the heat of summer, hot emotions, fever, or hot flashes. While you can turn on the A/C, fan, or have a cold drink, these aren’t quite as effective for your internal system as treating it from the inside out.?

There’s a breath technique for this, and it’s called Sitali Pranayam. It detoxes and cools the body. It also gives you power, strength and vitality.?

Here’s how to do it

Body Posture: Sit with your spine tall. You can also do this lying down or standing. What’s important is your posture: that your spine is tall so you can take full and complete breaths and so that the prana, or life force energy, can move freely throughout the body.?

Dristhi (eye focus): Close your eyes, or have them just slightly open, if you’re doing this as a meditation. Otherwise keeping them open is fine. ?

The breath:

• Stick the tongue out slightly and roll the sides of the tongue up. If this isn’t possible for you, you can either fake it and let it do what it does when you try, or just pucker the lips as if sipping through a straw.?
• Inhale slowly and deeply through the rolled tongue.?Remember to bring the breath down past the diaphragm and expand on the inhale.
• Close your mouth and exhale slowly and completely out through the nostrils.?

Time: Continue for 3 to 7 minutes. Or do it 11-26 times if you prefer to count than to use the timer. 108 times to turn it into a deep meditation practice to help heal your body and digestive system.??

Give this a try. Before starting, take a moment to check in with how you feel, your body temperature, mindset, and emotions. And then stay in tune with yourself as you do the Sitali and notice the shifts as they take place.?Awareness is everything.

Love, Savitree