Stress Management
Breathing Techniques
Here’s a rundown of our favorite breathing techniques. Think of pranayama as an extension of your yoga practice. By making a conscious decision to change the way you do the most basic, natural thing, you’re becoming more aware of the here and now. Doing so will help you find calm and relieve stress and anxiety.
Try them in yoga class, at home, on the road, while meditating, anywhere!
Sitali Breathing
Sitali breathing is a cooling breath-control, or pranayama, technique. You inhale through the curled tongue, then exhale through the back of the throat so you sound like Darth Vader, or as if you are fogging up a mirror. Here’s the sequence:
1. Sit in a comfortable position.
2. Keep the head level. Open the mouth and form the lips into an O.
3. Push out the tongue and curl it lengthwise so that its shape resembles a fresh curled leaf about to open.
4. Stretch the curled tongue farther out and draw in air as if drinking through a straw, and fill the lungs completely. The breath is moistened by passing through the curl of wet tongue.
5. After a full in-breath, withdraw the tongue and close the mouth.
6. Lower the head and tuck the chin to the chest and hold it there. Hold the breath for 5 to 10 seconds.
7. Exhale a la Darth.
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12 Aug 2008, 13:06