Breath · Pranayama
Sheetali (Cooling Breath)
Sheetali, the cooling breath, is a pranayama practice drawing air over the curled tongue, traditionally done to calm inner heat and irritation.
- Type
- Breath · Pranayama
- Duration
- 5-10 min
- Suits
- Pitta
05:00
How to practise
- Sit comfortably with a straight spine and relaxed jaw.
- Roll the tongue into a tube, or rest it lightly behind the front teeth if rolling is not natural.
- Breathe in slowly through the tongue, feeling the cool air pass over it.
- Close the mouth and breathe out gently through the nose.
- Keep both the in-breath and out-breath slow and even.
- Feel a soft sense of coolness settling through the body.
- Continue for the chosen time, then breathe naturally through the nose.
Traditionally valued for: Calms heat and brings a cooling sense of ease.