Long days of work are becoming boring and lifeless. In addition, they are constant heat and pollution. Unfortunately, you have absolutely no time to go to a quiet and rejuvenating place. So what do you do to feel your energies, detoxify and achieve balance within the space you have? There is a path, and it is called Kapalbhati Pranayama. Find out everything about the process and what it does to you by sliding it down.
What is Kapalbhati Pranayama?
A long time ago, a set of breathing techniques were designed to help people with their overall well-being. It’s called yogic breathing, and it’s an important aspect of yoga. Kapalbhati Pranayama is one of them, and has kept people healthy and pure since the ages.
‘Kapal’ means forehead, ‘Bhati’ means to shine, and ‘Pranayama’ means breathing technique. Kapalbhati Pranayama is a Sanskrit word meaning bright forehead breathing technique. It is named so that regular practice of the method gives it a brilliant forehead and a brilliant intellect.
The method needs minimal effort and comes with a myriad of benefits. It is a “shat” kriya technique that cleans the toxic air from your body by cleaning it in the process. With cleansing come various mental and physical benefits. Kapalbhati requires you to sit in a yogic posture and breathe. It is more of a breathing exercise than taking on a pose with the help of its members. It is part of the eight members of Yoga, compiled in Yoga Sutras by Sage Patanjali. Practicing Kapalbhati keeps you healthy in mind, body and spirit.
Now that we know the unique nature of Kapalbhati, we will find out how to practice it.
How To Make Kapalbhati
- Sit The Right Way
- Inhale Well
- Exhale Rapidly
- Relax Deeply
1. Sit in the right way
Sit comfortably in Sukhasana or in the Easy Pose. Place your palms on your knees. Make sure they are facing up. Direct your focus and awareness to the belly region.
2. Inhale well.
Inhale deeply with both nostrils, filling both lungs with air. Breathing should be a slow and steady intake of air, concentrating on the flow of air and breathing in a calm manner.
3. Exhale Quickly
Pull the stomach to your back. Get your navel closer to the spine as much as you can. Place your right hand on the belly button to feel your abdominal muscles twitch. As you relax from contraction, exhale the air in a small blast followed by an automatic inhalation. During exhalation, there will be a hissing. At this point, feel that all the bad ones in your body are coming out. By releasing the abdomen, you can feel the air filling your lungs.
4. Relax deeply
Inhale and exhale this way for about 20 times. This will be a round of Kapalbhati. Rest after completing a round by sitting silently in Sukhasana with your eyes closed and watching the sensations erupt in your body.
Types of Kapalbhati Pranayama
There are three types of Kapalbhati Pranayama. They are:
- Vatakrama Kapalbhati – This is the type we discussed above, where exhalation is active and inhalation is passive.
- Vyutkrama Kapalbhati – This type requires you to smell the water through your nostrils, let it flow through your mouth and eventually spit it through your lips.
- Sheetkrama Kapalbhati – This is the opposite of Vyutkrama Kapalbhati, and requires you to draw water from the mouth and expel through the nostrils.
Benefits of Kapalbhati Pranayama
- Kapalbhati generates heat in your body, dissolving toxins and other wastes
- Improves functioning of the kidneys and liver
- Removes stress from the eyes and turns off the darkness
- Increases blood circulation and digestion
- The method boosts your metabolic rate by helping fast weight loss
- Stimulates your abdominal organs and therefore is useful for diabetic patients
- Rejuvenates your brain and energizes your nerves
- The process calms you and raises your mind.
- This gives you a sense of balance and sensitivity, making you feel pure and free from destruction
- It eliminates acidity and gas related problems
- Kapalbhati strengthens your lungs and increases your capacity
- Regular Kapalbhati practice will activate it and make your face glowing radiant
- It improves memory and concentration power
- Practice cleans and activates the chakras in your body
- Helps cure asthma, sinus and ha
- Keeps depression at bay and fills you with positivity
Secundary effects
- Kapalbhati May Lead to Hypertension and Hernia
- May cause dizziness and headache
- You may feel vomiting
- Your mouth may become dry
- You may experience excessive sweating and salivation
Precautions
- Cardiac patients should go slowly with their exhalation
- Practice Kapalbhati in the morning on an empty stomach
- Those with high blood pressure should reduce their Kapalbhati rate
- Learn Kapalbhati from a certified yoga teacher after getting a health examination done
- It is best to avoid this technique if you are pregnant or menstruating
- Avoid Kapalbhati if you have a slippery disc or stent
- If you have ulcers, exercise caution when practicing Kapalbhati
- Kapalbhati is an advanced breathing technique. Try only after you become proficient at the basic pranayama level
- Keep in mind your limitations during practice and work through the process accordingly.
- Be cautious and aware during the breathing exercise if you have respiratory problems such as asthma
