Kapalabhati Pranayama, The Powerful Breathing Technique And Its Benefits

Kapalabhati pranayama, also called as kapalabhati kriya, is one of the powerful breathing techniques that promotes health. It is one of the six kriyas that aid in internal cleansing. Kapala means "skull" and bhati means "light" or "shining" and hence kapalabhati is called as skull shining breathing technique in English.

How To Do Kapalabhati Pranayama

Kapalabhati involves normal inhalation and rapid exhalation. Here is how you perform the technique.

• Sit in Padmasana, Vajrasana or Siddhasana and place your hands on your knees.
• Let your focus be on your lower belly. You may also place the right palm on your belly for a deep focus.
• Take a deep breath and exhale quickly and shortly with a puffing sound and pull in your stomach as you exhale. 
• Repeat the same 20 times and that would be one round.
• Relax with normal breathing.
• Perform two more rounds.

Benefits 

The benefits of kapalabhati include:

• Strengthens respiratory system
• Prevents allergies and illnesses
• Strengthens abdominal muscles
• Clears energy channels
• Aids in detoxification
• Promotes digestive function
• Improves oxygen supply
• Rejuvenates nervous system
• Energizes the body
• Promotes calm

Note

Those with heart conditions, high blood pressure, epilepsy and hernia should avoid practising kapalabhati. The technique should not be performed by pregnant women and immediately after childbirth. Those who had undergone abdominal surgery in the recent past should also avoid practising kapalabhati.