Cool Breathing for Your Hot Summer

This really works!

I found it on about.com: http://yoga.about.com/od/breathing/a/shitali.htm?nl=1

This breath cools the body so it is best done in hot weather or at the end of a vigorous yoga session.

1. Come to sit in a comfortable cross-legged position.

2. Take two or three deep inhales and exhales through the nose to prepare.

3. Roll the tongue, curling the sides in towards the center to form a tube. Stick the end of the tongue out between your pursed lips. If you can’t roll your tongue, just purse the lips making a small “o” shape with the mouth.

4. Inhale through the tube of the tongue.

5. Exhale through the nose.

6. Repeat 5-10 times as you feel the cooling effect.

Reduce Anxiety - Soothe with Water

Zen Buddhist monks have incorporated water features into their meditative garden for hundreds of years because of their soothing sounds. And studies have shown that listening to nature - particularly running water and waves - helps reduce anxiety. Feeling stressed? Place a tabletop fountain at your desk or bedside or download the sounds of the surf at NatureMusicDownload.com

- from Health.com July/August 2010