How do cooling pranayama techniques affect body temperature?
Research Study At A Glance
Research Study At A Glance
The Research Question Asked
Are sheetali and sitkari pranayamas cooling?
Type of Study
Clinical research study
Study Participants (Sample)
Sample size: 17 men
- 17 total participants
- Between ages 19-25
- Experience with pranayama for at least 3 months
- Ability to perform both the sheetali and sitkari pranayama techniques
Methods
The researchers measured surface body temperature, oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide elimination, rate of respiration, estimated energy expenditure, and estimated non-protein respiratory quotient before, during, and after performing each of the pranayama techniques.
Results
Measures of “heating” in the body (body temperature, oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide elimination, and estimated energy expenditure) increased during both pranayama techniques. That is in contrast to the control treatment (quiet lying down) during which three of those parameters decreased (oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide elimination, and estimated energy expenditure) and there was no change in body temperature.
Conclusion
Sheetali and sitkari pranayamas were not cooling to the body.
Background
Historic texts that reference yoga mention many different kinds of yoga practices. These texts often ascribe particular effects or benefits to the practices. Recently researchers have begun taking a look at some of these practices through the lens of science to see what effects they actually find.
In this case, the research group on this study was interested in exploring the effects of two pranayama techniques, sheetali and sitkari. Both of these pranayamas have names in Sanskrit that refer to cooling and they have traditionally been considered “cooling” pranayamas, in contrast to a breathing technique like ujjayi which is considered “warming”. The researchers were interested in whether or not these two pranayamas had the effect of literally cooling the body.
Research question
Are sheetali and sitkari pranayamas cooling?
Research methods
The participants in the study included 17 men between 19 and 25 years old. All had at least three months of experience with pranayama and had the ability to perform both sheetali and sitkari pranayamas specifically.
The researchers conducted four sessions with the research participants. They conducted each session on a separate day, but at the same time of day. They allotted 24 hours between each of the four sessions. Participants completed one session each of sheetali pranayama, sitkari pranayama, breath awareness practice, and quiet lying down. The study included quiet lying down as a control comparison. Each participant completed the sessions in a randomly assigned order so the results wouldn’t be biased by the order of the sessions. During each session participants completed three 5-minute durations of the practice assigned to that session, interspersed with 1 minute of rest between each of the three repetitions of the assigned practice.
The research team measured surface body temperature, oxygen consumed, carbon dioxide eliminated, rate of respiration, estimated energy expenditure, and estimated non-protein respiratory quotient for each participant and during each practice. They measured each of these variables for 5 minutes before the practice assigned, for 18 minutes during the practice, and for 5 minutes after performing the practice.
Results
During both the sheetali and sitkari pranayamas:
- Body temperature increased
- Oxygen consumption increased
- Carbon dioxide elimination increased
- Estimated energy expenditure increased
- Non-protein respiratory quotient increased
This is in contrast to the control treatment (quiet lying down) where:
- Oxygen consumption decreased
- Carbon dioxide elimination decreased
- Estimated energy expenditure decreased
Why is this relevant to yoga practitioners?
Yoga practices encompass a wide range of techniques. It’s important to evaluate any technique that we choose to practice, whether that is yoga asanas, pranayama, or other techniques. Historic texts often did not include extensive information about either how to approach specific yoga techniques or what their effects would be in different situations. It was generally assumed that this information would be passed down from a teacher who had experience with the practices.
In the current time, we have the opportunity to add to the body of yoga knowledge by evaluating practices and examining their effects using science. When we add the information gained by examining practices through the lens of science to what is available in historic texts, we create a more informed body of yoga knowledge. In this case, it seems likely that since the two pranayamas examined don’t literally cool the body, the second interpretation of their names might have actually been the intended effect, which is a calming of the nervous system, rather than literally cooling. More research is necessary to determine if the two pranayamas have that effect however.
Conclusion
People all over the world experience many benefits from yoga practices these days. The more we know about the specific effects of individual practices, the more we can choose the appropriate yoga practice for a specific situation. Modern science provides an opportunity to learn more about the effects of yoga.