Sheetkari Pranayama – The Hissing Breath Sheetkari Pranayama or the Hissing Breath is ususally done after practicing other asanas and pranayamas. Sheetkari Pranayama cools the body. Sheetkari pranayama is mentioned in the yoga text Hatha Yoga Pradeepika. Art of living is a renowned NGO. The founder of this organization is His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. The organization offers various courses on the art to live life. They teach beneficial breathing pranayama, which has tremendous benefits for different parts of our body which they call, the Sudarshan Kriya. How to Do Sheetali Pranayama. Pranayama is the Sanskrit word that means “breath control” and it also means the extension of the prana. This word originally comes from the combination of two Sanskrit words: the first word is Prana which means life force and the second word is Ayama which means extending or drawing out. “ Sheetkari Pranayama ” is a breathing technique which involves hissing leading to a cooling effect upon the whole body. The word “seetkari” literally means the breathing technique that “produces the ‘seee’ or the ‘seet’ sound”. In English, it is usually translated as the “hissing cooling breath”. Sheetali pranayama is not so complex to practice and is a very simple procedure which has some simple breathing steps. Although the process is quite simple but it is advisable to practice it under the observation of an expert yoga professional.
Yoga Asanas and Pranayama are the two distinctive gifts to people for maintaining a healthy life in a natural manner. They enforce not solely physical well – being however additionally mental well being. In Shitali pranayama and Sheetkari pranayama we breathe through the mouth. These are the same as Python’s breathing. Python, hens, kids of deer takes a deep breath through opening the mouth and they all are simply sucked in with the air and it’s the capability to digest it. Sheetkari pranayama and the Shitali process are also like this.
Both two breathing activities are very useful in cooling down the body and mind also. Performing 6 or 7 rounds of these processes can alleviate your thirst when you are feeling very thirsty and there is no water available. Shitali and Sheetkari pranayama are mentioned in Hatha yoga Pradipika as a process of pranayama. Shitali and Sheetkari pranayama are similar, but there is only one difference between them, is a way of breathing. In Shitali we breathe through folding our tongue and in Sheetkari we inhale through teeth.
Steps of Sheetkari Pranayama
- Sit in any meditative pose in which you are comfortable.
- Keep your eyes close and try to touch the tongue upward.
- Join the upper and lower row of teeth.
- Now open your lips and start inhaling with making the sound See-See.
- After inhaling close your lips and breathe out through the nose.
- Repeat this at least 8 to 10 rounds.
Benefits of Sheetkari Pranayama
The benefits or plus points of Sheetkari is the same as Shitali Pranayama but there are some following plus points of Sheetkari pranayama.
- Cools down the body temperature so it is useful in Fever.
- It is beneficial in mouth-related diseases, throat and tongue.
- Shitkari pranayama helps in spleen and indigestion.
- Best for High blood pressure and for the summer session.
- It is effective in dental problems like pyorrhea.
- It controls body temperature.
- Calms the mind and it is the best to stress buster.
- Reduces emotional excitation and mental tension.
- Best for depression.
Precautions:
People who are suffering from cold and cough, Asthama, or other respiratory problems, tonsillitis should not practice Sheetkari and Shitali pranayama. People who have Low Blood pressure problems are strictly advised not to perform this pranayama.
Sheetkari pranayama is the variation of Shitali Pranayam. People who are not able to fold both sides of the tongue in Shitali pranayama can perform this pranayama. Perform Shitali pranayama and Sheetkari pranayama after doing Asana and other Pranayama.
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