Cooling Pranayama

अथ शीतली
जिह्वया वायुमाकॄष्ह्य पूर्ववत्कुम्भ-साधनम |
शनकैर्घ्राण-रन्ध्राभ्यां रेछयेत्पवनं सुधीः || ५७ ||

atha śītalī
jihvayā vāyumākṝṣhya pūrvavatkumbha-sādhanam |
śanakairghrāṇa-randhrābhyāṃ rechayetpavanaṃ sudhīḥ || 57 ||

Technique

As in the above (sitali), the tongue to be protruded a little out of the lips, when the air is drawn in. It is kept confined, as before, and then expelled slowly through the nostrils

The yogi who drinks the air through his mouth like a crow-bill both dawn and dusk, meditating on the mouth of kundalini destroys the turecolosis and turns out to be poet within 6 months.(Shiva Samhita 84)

अथ सीत्कारी
सीत्कां कुर्यात्तथा वक्त्रे घराणेनैव विजॄम्भिकाम |
एवमभ्यास-योगेन काम-देवो दवितीयकः || ५४ ||

atha sītkārī
sītkāṃ kuryāttathā vaktre ghrāṇenaiva vijṝmbhikām |
evamabhyāsa-yoghena kāma-devo dvitīyakaḥ || 54 ||

Technique

Sitkari is performed by drawing in the air through the mouth, keeping the tongue between the lips. The air thus drawn in should not be expelled through the mouth. By practising in this way, one becomes next to the God of Love in beauty.

After having firmly pressed the front teeth together the yogi who drinks the vital air with appropriate method through the whole between the teeth, while meditating on goddess Kundalini. (SS 83)

Benefits:

  • Soothes nervous system (parasympathetic)
  • Reduces body temperature.
  • One becomes young and attractive as per HYP
  • Controls emotional excitement and stress
  • Reduces blood pressure (cautions needs to be taken)
  • Purifies blood
  • Improves digestion
  • One can conquer theOld age &Death.
  • Control over Hunger, thirst, sleep and faint.

Limitation:

  • Severe cold, cough
  • Asthma
  • Tonsillitis
  • Other respiratory problem
  • Obese
  • Low blood pressure*