During July and August, Hydrocephalus Canada will not be facilitating our regular programming with the support groups and yoga. The office remains open, and we are here to answer support emails and calls.
In our last Chair Yoga session in June, we discussed the importance of breathwork, gentle yoga and light stretches to reduce stress, maintain our flexibility and even cool down our bodies during the summer month.
Waiting to Exhale
During times of stress, we sometimes unconsciously hold our breath. To avoid this and to re-train our bodies not to do this, we practice breath awareness by following and becoming aware of our gentle inhalations (through the nose) and exhalations (through the mouth.) Drawing our attention to our breath also help us relax and can even help us release stress that we hold in other parts of our body. Breath awareness can even help us to feel cooler as through this awareness, we relax, release and let go of all tension we are holding.
Pranayama and Sheetali Breathwork
Sheetali or “cooling breath’ is a form of breathwork that can help cool the body, relax the mind and chill out.
As a child, did you ever roll your tongue with your teeth? Or did you ever purse your lips as you took a gulp of air? And, if so, did it cool you down?
As it turns out, these ways of breathing do cool us down!
To practice sheetali or pursed lips beathing:
Find a comfortable place to sit either in a chair/wheelchair.
Roll our shoulders up, back and down so that your chest is open.
Do a few regular inhalations and exhalations.
When you are ready to do sheetali breath, roll the tip of your tongue with your teeth forming a tube and stick out your tongue through your pursed lips. Gently inhale through this tube filling your lungs. Close your mouth and exhale through your nose.
For those who cannot roll their tongues, you can simply inhale through your pursed lips and exhale through the nose. Repeat 5 times to feel cooling effect.
NOTE: While this is a wonderful cooling breath, people with high blood pressure or pre-existing breathing difficulties should NOT do this breathwork.
For those who cannot do sheetali breathwork nor pursed lips breathing, even slowing the breathing and focusing on breath awareness will cool both the emotions and body temperature.
For more breathing tips, gentle stretching and yoga poses, please join Ingrid for HC Chair Yoga in September. Visit the Events Calendar for details. https://www.hydrocephalus.ca/events/
Happy Summer Holidays!
Ingrid Exner
Community Support Coordinator
