“This pranayama called sheetali destroys diseases of the abdomen and spleen, also fever, bilious complaints, hunger, thirst and the negative effects of poisons, such as snakebites.”
Hatha Yoga Pradipika, 2.57–58
If you have a need always to excel and are very ambitious, or frequently feel irritable or angry, then your samana energy may be too strong, causing you to “heat up”. If so, you would benefit from energy-cooling practices, such as the breathing exercises opposite, which can help to cool you down emotionally as well as physically.
The Sanskrit name fr the Cooling Breath, sheetali, can be translated as “calm”, “passionless” or “unemotional”, and this indicates its effect on fiery conditions of the mind and emotions. Yoga teachers recommend this exercise to “cool down” chronic physical problems arising from excessive heat in the body, such as fevers, skin rashes, stomach ulcers, hyperacidity and even bee stings.
If you are unable to master the tongue-rolling of the Cooling Breath opposite, above (some people find it anatomically impossible), then try the Hissing Breath, opposite, below, which replicates many of its cooling effects. While cooling the temperature of a heated mind and emotions, this practice is also said to enhance the beauty and vigour of your body.
Although stressful reactions such as anger may be an unavoidable fact of life, don’t allow them to drain your energy. Next time you feel yourself “heating up” – your blood pressure rising, heart starting to pump faster or sweat prickling your skin – stop for a moment and try one of the cooling exercises opposite. While calming body and emotions, they bring in extra brain-nourishing oxygen so you can work out how best to deal with a difficult situation.
This is especially good for quelling anger and cooling your system in summer, the best season to practise (ideally, at midday). Start by sitting comfortably (see pages 35–7).
1 Sit with your back straight. Stick your tongue out a little way past your lips. Try to roll the sides of your tongue upward and together to form a tube (see image A). If you find this difficult, then don’t worry – try the Hissing Breath instead (see below).
2 Draw air into your mouth through your tongue-tube, as if you are drinking it through a straw.
3 Hold your breath for as long as you feel comfortable, then exhale through both nostrils. Repeat 3–5 times and then relax.
This exercise counteracts extreme heat by cooling your system. It also helps to develop a single-minded focus. As with the exercise above, try not to practise in cold weather.
1 Sit as before with your back straight (see above). Open your mouth a little, then fold your tongue back so that the tip touches the hard ridge behind your teeth (see imageB).
2 Try to bring your teeth back together and inhale by drawing air in through your mouth, making a hissing sound.
3 Immediately exhale slowly through both nostrils. Repeat the exercise 2–5 times and then relax.