Sheetali and Sitkari Pranayama

Swami Ramdev recommends Pranayams like Sitali (Sheetali) and Sitakari especially for summer. Practicing these Pranayams not only cools the body’s core temperature but also the mind, making one feel serene, peaceful and calm in a jiffy. If you are feeling thirsty and water is unavailable just 5 rounds of one of these two pranayams will alleviate your thirst in no time

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Sheetali Pranayama

Sheetali pranayama is a breathing technique to reduce heat in the body. It is often referred to as the “Cooling Breath”. Using the cooling tendencies of the tongue, sheetali pranayama only allows cool, relaxed breaths to enter the body. These breaths have the effect of lowering the temperature of the body, as well as cooling the mind. People with disorders resulting from excess heat in the body/mind, such as high blood pressure, acidity, or ulcers will benefit greatly from the daily practice of this pranayama
Method : Sit in Padmasana, Siddhasana or Vajrasana. Protruding the tongue roll it along the sides so that it takes the shape of blowpipe. Now suck in the air and retain it inside your lungs as long as possible. Ultimately exhale the breath through both the nostrils.
Benefits :

1. The Pranayama expels the toxins that accumulate in the blood, and thus purifies the blood.
2. Diseases like tumor, jaundice,skin diseases, fever are cured, and it also corrects indigestion and constipation.
3. It quenches the thirst. Hence if for any reason getting water is impossible at some place, and you are feeling thirsty you may quench the thirst through this Pranayama.
4. With regular practice of this you may become immune to the snakebite and Scorpio’s stings.
5. For the people who lose temper easily and get excited quickly this Pranayama is highly beneficial.
6. With this Pranayama uncontrolled growth of placenta, liver, spleen and disease like gangrene, leprosy etc. are corrected

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Sitkari Pranayama

Method : Sit in Padmasana or Siddhasana

Benefits :

1. With practice of sitkari Pranayama effects the hunger, the thirst, the laziness and the sleep are removed.
2. It prevents the bile from increasing.
3. Hardness of the tonsils is also removed by it.
4. With regular practice of the Pranayama the mental and physical powers of the performer increase.