Pranayama Practice: Kapalabhati
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Pranayama
Pranayama is the 4th limb of the 8 limbs of yoga. Pranayama is the practice of breathing exercises. According to Ayurveda, prana is the life force of the world. When we practice pranayama, we are expanding the breath or that life force. Prana is also considered the connection between the body and the mind, so when we practice pranayama we are uniting the body and mind. There are many types of pranayama practices in Ayurveda. Some forms of pranayama are lunar energy focused and cooling or calming like Adham Pranayama. While others are solar energy focused and heating or energizing like Kapalabhati Pranayama which we discuss in this post. Lastly there are pranayama practices that are balancing to both the lunar and solar energies like Nadi Shodana Pranayama.
In Ayurveda, pranayama is used as a treatment or chikitsa. Depending on the prakruti (dosha/constitution) or vikruti (current imbalances) of the individual. Solar or heating forms of pranayama like Kapalbhati are generally recommended for kapha dosha or kapha imbalances. This form of pranayama has a forceful exhalation and a passive inhalation. According to Ayurveda, our exhalation is how we releases toxins that have built up in the mind. Our exhalation is a mala or waste product of the mind just as urine, sweat, and feces are malas of the body. This means that kapalabhati pranayama helps to cleanse and purify the mind. In fact kapalabhati translates to “skull shining breath” or “that which makes the head shine”. Imagine you just cleaned your bathroom to a perfect gleaming shine that a metaphor for what you are doing for your mind when you practice kapalabhati; you are cleaning and clearing your mind of all the clutter, debris and dirt. Kapalabhati also involves a contraction of the abdominal wall on the exhalation. This works to increase agni or the digestive fire as well as improve digestion.
Kapalabhati Pranayama (Breath of Fire or Skull Shining Breath)
Kapalabhati Pranayama is also known as “breath of fire” or “skull shining breath”. It is pronounced as (kah-pah-lah-BAH-tee). To practice this breathing technique follow these steps or listen to our audio recording of how to practice Kapalabhati Pranayama:
Sit comfortably with your hips elevated on a pillow to help keep your spine straight.
Bring your attention to your lower belly as this is where the action and energy of kapalabhati comes from. Some people find it helpful to place a hand on the lower belly when they first start learning this form of pranayama.
To practice take a deep inhalation and then as you exhale, pull your navel center back to your spine, letting out a forceful exhale. This is often referred to as one pump of the breath.
Then let the navel relax and a passive inhale will begin, as the breath flows into the lungs automatically.
Take 20 breaths (inhale & exhale) like this and then take 3 long deep breaths and repeat again if desired.
The pace of inhalations and exhalations is different for each person. However, with time, people often find their speed increases.
How fast or slow you practice kapalabhati is not important. The quality of your practice is the most important. Remember there shouldn’t be any straining or forcing when practicing pranayama. We always want to feel peace and ease when we practice.
Music by Fried Coffee.
“I breathe out strongly like the wind while clasping unto myself all worlds, all things that are.”