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Time of practice: It may be performed at any time of day,
although it is best performed early in the morning or late
at night. It should not be performed in cold weather. Precautions: Kaki mudra should not be practised in a polluted
atmosphere or in excessively cold weather because the normal filtering and air-conditioning function of the nose
is bypassed. Contra-indications: People suffering from depression, low
blood pressure and chronic constipation should avoid this
practice. Benefits: Kaki mudra cools the body and mind and soothes
mental tensions, alleviating disorders such as high blood pressure. In addition to the benefits of nasikagra drishti, the act of pursing the lips in this practice, together with the contact of the indrawn air with the membranes of the mouth, stimulates digestive secretions aiding the digestive
process generally. It also purifies the blood. Practice note: Practitioners should be thoroughly familiar with
nasikagra drishti prior to commencing this technique. The eyes must be kept open throughout the practice and nasikagra drishti should be continuous. If the eyes become tired, relax them for as long as necessary before recom
mencing the practice. Note: The word kaki means 'crow'. Kaki mudra is so-called because
during inhalation the mouth is shaped like a crow's beak. It is claimed that regular practice of this mudra leads to the diseasefree, long life that is associated with the crow. This mudra is also considered to be a pranayama practice because of its close similarity to sheetali and seetkari pranayamas.
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