Sheetkari (Hissing Breath - Closed Teeth)
Sheetkari is a traditional yogic cooling breath performed by inhaling through clenched teeth to create a hissing sound, followed by a slow nasal exhalation. It acts as a natural thermoregulator, rapidly cooling the body and calming the nervous system.
- 1Sit comfortably with an upright spine and relaxed shoulders.
- 2Lightly close your teeth together and part your lips, exposing your teeth.
- 3Inhale slowly and deeply through the gaps in your teeth, creating a hissing ('si') sound and feeling the cool air.
- 4Close your mouth, relax your jaw, and exhale slowly and completely through your nose.
- 5Repeat this cycle for 3 to 5 minutes, focusing on the cooling sensation spreading through your body.
Inhaling through the moisture of the mouth and clenched teeth utilizes evaporative cooling, directly lowering the temperature of the air entering the lungs and subsequently cooling the blood. This sensory input, combined with a slow, controlled exhalation, stimulates the vagus nerve and shifts the autonomic nervous system into a parasympathetic state. The resulting decrease in sympathetic tone helps lower heart rate, reduce blood pressure, and mitigate the physiological symptoms of stress and overheating.
Treats Symptoms
Target Metrics
Avoid in extremely cold environments, or if suffering from severe asthma, chronic bronchitis, low blood pressure, or sensitive teeth and gums.
Verified Sources
Keep TryBreathing Free.
We are building the open-source Wikipedia of the human nervous system. No paywalls, no ads, no subscriptions. If this protocol helped you today, consider supporting the servers.
Support the MissionRecommended Reading & Tools
Deepen your understanding of respiratory physiology. These verified texts and tools form the foundational science behind many of the protocols in our directory.
Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art
By James Nestor
The Oxygen Advantage
By Patrick McKeown
The Breathing Cure
By Patrick McKeown
The Breather
Clinical Inspiratory Muscle Trainer (IMT)
TryBreathing is a free, community-supported resource. We may earn a small commission if you purchase through these verified clinical links, which directly funds our server costs.