Are you irritated by the summer heat? Flushed with anger? Plagued by hot flashes? Long ago, the yogis discovered a cooling pranayama practice that can soothe you in the time it takes to drink a glass of water.
Deep in the Himalayas, ancient sages observed and imitated the world around them in the noble attempt to master body, breath, and mind. They noticed the curve of a bird’s lower beak, a new green leaf uncurling, and the hiss of a cobra—and emulated those shapes and sounds in a practice called sitali (the cooling breath). In this pranayama, the inhalation is moistened as it passes through the curl of the tongue (alternately described as a bird’s beak and an uncurling leaf), so that you are “drinking” water-saturated air
Yogis, long ago, discovered that Sitali Pranayama (cooling breath) was a great way to soothe, relax and cool body and mind.
Sitali and Sitkari pranayama are terrific breaths for cooling the body and mind.
UTTANASANA-STANDING LUNAR FORWARD BEND.
Start standing with your hands on your hips. Exhale to hinge from the hips and bend forward. Release your fingertips toward the ground. Root down into the four corners of your feet. Release the back of your head and neck. Feel your torso lengthen and your chest reach toward your toes.
Hold for 1′.
Varvara Solomonidou,Wellness Specialist, Personal Trainer, Seminar & Conference Lecturer, Pilates Master Trainer “AthensTrainers® Ultimate Pilates System®”, Member of Pilates Method Alliance (PMA), Member of European Lifestyle Medicine Organization (ELMO), DNAFit® Certified Trainer, General Manager & Owner of AthensTrainers®
PHOTOS: FOTIS FOTOPOULOS
MODEL: KONSTANTINA BAKARA, YOGA INSTRUCTOR, ATHENSTRAINERS® ASSOCIATE
SOURCE: BODY MAGAZINE, ISSUE 51