3 Pranayama Practices to Warm You from the Inside Out

Pranayama (breathing) practices are a great way to cultivate inner heat during the winter. Here are three of my favorites that will get your inner space heater thrumming.

Anuloma Viloma is a variation of Nadi Shodhana (Alternate-Nostril Breathing), with a short breath retention. Breath retention stokes the tejas, an Ayurvedic term meaning “inner radiance,“ by charging the nervous system with self-generated heat, warming the body, and clearing the chattering of the mind (and possibly the teeth!). One of the keys to practicing Anuloma Viloma is to keep the breath retention short, to avoid strain. The breath should be held for a few counts, four to 10 heartbeats at the most.

Kapalabhati, or Skull-Polishing breath, consists of short, sharp exhalations and passive inhalations while pumping the belly. The belly-pumping action is great for stimulating the digestive fire, which can get sluggish during the cold, dark days of winter. It’s also effective for clearing the sinuses—just make sure you have a tissue handy. Though Kapalabhati can be quite vigorous and active, try practicing it gently and mindfully, allowing the exhales to be soft puffs of air; one to two rounds of 30 pumps should do the trick. (Kapalabhati is contraindicated for those who are pregnant, or have glaucoma or high blood pressure.)

Ujjayi, also known as Victorious or Ocean-Sounding breath, is the pranayama technique most associated with hatha yoga. Ujjayi is a steady inhale and exhale through the nose, with a mild constriction at the back of the throat during the exhale. The constriction creates an “ocean sound" that is meant to heat the body and focus the mind. I recommend Ujjayi to accompany warming yoga practices such as Sun Salutations, standing and balancing postures, and grounded yin poses.

Find out about programs with Larissa Hall Carlson at Kripalu.

© Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health. All rights reserved. To request permission to reprint, please e-mail editor@kripalu.org.