Kapal Bhati

KAPAL BHATI (SKULL SHINING)

Benefits :

This exercise is an ancient breath control technique that, when used properly, will not only instantly revitalize your body but will also highly accelerate the degree of your mental awareness.

Technique :

While seated, move you upper body and neck around for a few moments to add new circulation to any tense muscles. Then, straighten you spine and close your eyes. Concentrate on you breath and begin to observe the natural energy-giving life force entering and exiting your body through your nose.

When you are centered, take in a very deep breath through your nose. Let this breath fill your lungs. As you do, witness your chest and stomach expand. When your lungs are completely full of your body through your nose with a rapid powerful push. Immediately inhale again, powerfully, through your nose. As soon as this breath is in, push it out.

Each in-breath and each out-breath in the kapalbhati technique should take approximately one second to execute. You do not hold breath in your lungs at any time during this breath control method. Air is rapidly expelled.

At the beginning stage of this breath control technique you should perform three cycles of ten breaths each. At the end of each ten-breath cycle, expel the final breath in a slow and controlled manner. Then, breathe in and out naturally through your nose for approximately three breath cycles. Once the final breath is consciously release, again begin the rapid in and out pattern of breathing.

It is common side effect in the early stages of this breath control technique for you to become slightly light headed. If this becomes uncomfortable for you, then limit this practice to only one or two cycles. Once your body becomes used to kapalbhati, you can extend this practice for up to ten cycles of thirty breaths each.