Beat the Summer Heat!
Are you getting irritated by the summer heat? Snapping with anger? This may be a sign your system is out of balance. In Ayurveda summer is the pitta (fire) season and too much of this fire energy can leave feeling drained, exhausted and burnt out.
Sitali (Cooling) Breath
In this pranayama, the inhalation is moistened as it passes through the curl of the tongue. It cools the body, adds moisture to the system, and soothes a pitta imbalance, which is common in the hot summer months.
- Find a comfortable seated position with your spine long and the palms resting up on your thighs or knees.
- Settle yourself in this moment with some deep breaths. (or diaphragmatic breath if preferred)
- Roll your tongue into a taco (or cannoli) shape
- Inhale through rolled up tongue or pursed lips for 5 counts – Focus your attention on the cooling sensation of the breath as the abdomen and lower ribs expand
- Hold the breath for 5 counts
- Exhale through nose for 5 counts
- Repeat 10-12 times or 2-3 minutes
- Return back to your natural breath (or diaphragmatic breath if preferred)
- Repeat the cycle gradually building yourself up to 10mins
Sitkari(Cooling) Breath
If you can’t roll your tongue, as not everyone can, try this instead. In this pranayama, the inhalation is moistened as it passes over of the tongue. It cools the body, adds moisture to the system, and soothes a pitta imbalance, which is common in the hot summer months.
- Find a comfortable seated position with your spine long and the palms resting up on your thighs or knees.
- Settle yourself in this moment with some deep breaths. (or diaphragmatic breath if preferred)
- Purse your lips, making a small “o” shape with your mouth. Keep your tongue against the back side of your bottom teeth so that the air you are drawing in passes over it.
- Inhale through pursed lips for 5 counts –
- Hold the breath for 5 counts
- Exhale through nose for 5 counts
- Repeat 10-12 times or 2-3 minutes
- Return back to your natural breath (or diaphragmatic breath if preferred)
- Repeat the cycle gradually building yourself up to 10mins
Chandra Bhedana / Moon Piercing Breath
This pranayama focuses on Inhaling through the left nostril which is not just cooling for the body it is deeply relaxing and calming for the body, as the breath enters the left side of the brain this can also help aid a restful sleep
- Find a comfortable seated position with your spine long and the palms resting up on your thighs or knees.
- Settle yourself in this moment with some deep breaths. (or diaphragmatic breath if preferred)
- Slowly bring right hand towards face and close right nostril with the thumb while gently placing the two peace fingers to the eyebrow centre
- Inhale through the left nostril
- Close left nostril with ring finger
- Exhale through the right
- Repeat 10-12 times or 2-3 minutes
- Return back to your natural breath (or diaphragmatic breath if preferred)
- Repeat the cycle gradually building yourself up to 10mins
Besides building breath awareness and cooling our system, these practices calm the mind, reduce fatigue, bad breath, fevers, and high blood pressure.
