Lion's breath

siṃhāsana. This breath is the one associated with lion pose. Texts differ on the gaze.

Sit or kneel comfortably. Inhale through the nose. On the exhale, open the mouth, stretch the tongue toward the chin, keep the eyes open, and make an audible ha. Keep the gaze steady. Sources differ on where the eyes look, so this page does not pick one point.

The seconds are a product default.

Sources

• Yoga Journal's lion pose teaching uses a nasal inhale, then an open-mouth exhale with the tongue stretched toward the chin and a distinct ha, and it says texts differ on where the eyes look. Lion Pose

Skip this

• Skip this with jaw pain or recent dental or jaw surgery.
• Skip this if a controlled breath feels strained.

Stop if

• Stop if you feel dizzy, lightheaded, tingling in the lips or fingers, chest pain, heart pounding or irregular beats, visual change, nausea, headache, or panic that is rising rather than settling. Sit or lie down. Breathe quietly, without controlling the breath, until it passes.
• If chest pain, fainting, or trouble breathing does not settle, seek urgent care.