Breathing Course for Beginners — Addition 9

Sitkari and Shitali

 

 

 

The next exercise is Shitali or Sitkari: the cooling, calming, harmonizing Pranayama. Shitali means to roll the tongue lengthways and Sitkari means to roll the tongue transversely. You inhale with a hiss through your tongue and you breathe out gently through your nose, thereby you feeling calm and serenity.

With this practical exercise you will receive instructions on how to optimally perform Sitkari and Sitali, one of the energizing breathing exercises in Yoga. Sitkari and Sitali also belong to the eight Mahakumbhakas, 8 special breathing exercises that are called in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika of Svatmarama.