Find some relief from the summer heat with the cooling breathing techniques of sitali and sitkari pranayama.

Here is a short guide to follow to help cultivate an evening Bhramari pranayama practice to relax the mind and body for a good night’s sleep. Bhramari Pranayama is a breathing technique that has an extended exhale with a low humming sound coming from the throat. The practice is named after the large Indian carpenter bee, hence the nickname, Humming Bee Breath. 

Let’s practice unilateral nostril breathing with the right nostril!

Research shows that conscious breathing through the right nostril only will promote a sense of calm and increased happiness by decreasing the sense of stress and restlessness. Unilateral nostril breathing is a breathing technique that involves inhaling and exhaling through one nostril, while the other nostril is partially closed. 

Let’s practice unilateral nostril breathing with the left nostril!

Research shows that conscious breathing through the left nostril only will promote a sense of mental focus and reduce mind wandering. Unilateral nostril breathing is a breathing technique that involves inhaling and exhaling through one nostril, while the other nostril is partially closed. 

Nadi Shodhana, or alternate nostril breathing technique, is a breathing technique that involves inhaling through one nostril and exhaling through the other. The purpose of this pranayama is to expand our prana or life force and balance our chakras. Nadi Shodhana (nah-dee show-dah-nah) is a pranayama practice that quiets the mind and restores harmony.

Experimenting with breath ratios, we’re going to revisit the box breath, but this time, with an extended exhale and followed by a much shorter breath retention. Breathing with an extended exhale will work towards strengthening our vagal tone and makes us more resilient to stress.

In his book, Breathe: The New Science of a Lost Art, James Nestor discovers the perfect breathing rate is 5.5 breaths per minute. Let’s explore the perfect breath with a samavritti pranayama practice.