Sitali Pranayama
This breathing exercise will help cool your system down(:…great for activating liver! It improves Digestion and relieves excessive thirst. Good for low-grade temperature.
1. Sit in Padmasana-Lotus, Siddhasana-partial Lotus, or Virasana-Hero’s Pose.
2. Keep back erect, head level, and back of hands resting on knees in Jnana Mudra
(index and thumb fingers touch).
3. Open mouth and form lips into an “O”
4. The sides & tip of the tongue touch the teeth, from the molars to the front teeth, should be lifted and curled up. Shape of tongue will resemble a fresh curled leaf about to open.
5. Protrude the curled tongue out of the lips. Draw in the air past the curled tongue with a sound like-ssssa to fill lungs completely. Air is drawn in like through a pipette or a drinking straw. After full inhale, withdraw the tongue and close the mouth.
6. After full inhalation, lower the head, from the nape of the neck to the trunk. Chin should rest in notch between the collar bones and just above the breast-bone. Head is now in Jalandhara Bandha position.
7. Now hold the breath for about 5 seconds, practicing Mula Bandha.
8. Exhale slowly with an aspirate sound-hhuuuuum through the nose as in Ujjayi.
9. This completes one cycle of Sitali Pranayama.
10. Lift the head and repeat the cycle for 5-10 minutes.
Lay down in Savasana~