When temperatures soar, regulating your own body temperature usually translates to slowing down and lying low so as not to create any additional heat. The right breathing exercise can help expedite your efforts by using your inhalations and exhalations to cool your system so you can chill out in more ways than one.

The following breathing exercise is a pranayama, or breathing, practice called sitali breath. This breathing exercise is sometimes called taco breath, as it asks you to fold your tongue in half as if you’re making a taco shape. In yogic tradition, this breath is believed to lower internal body heat while also calming the mind.

The best part? All you need is a comfortable place to sit and five minutes.

5-Minute Breathing Exercise to Cool Down

The best breathwork sessions are those in which you give yourself permission to be fully present. This practice might be brief, but it has the  potential to shift the energy of your entire day.

Settle In

Begin by finding a comfortable seat, whether kneeling in Thunderbolt or sitting in Easy Pose. Feel free to add a block or a bolster beneath you for additional support. Remember, the goal here is not to exert effort. (No additional heat!)

Relax your shoulders and close your eyes. Place your hands on your thighs with your palms facing upward to receive energy or facing down for grounding.

Observe your breath without trying to control or shape it.

Stay here for 1 minute.

Sitali Breath

Now,  begin practicing sitali breath.

Try to roll or fold the tip of your tongue. Inhale as if you’re breathing in through a straw. Then unfold your tongue, seal your lips, and exhale through your nose.

Repeat this pattern of pranayama for 3 minutes.

If this feels difficult, simply touch your teeth together and breathe in through your mouth. Always exhale through your nose.

Natural Breathing

Release the pranayama—and any control. Breathe in through your nose and out through your nose for 1 minute.

When you’re ready, open your eyes.

Keep this cool, grounding energy with you through the rest of your day. Remember that whenever you need to regain your cool, you can always pause to enjoy a few rounds of Sitali.