Kapalabhati Definition
Kapalabhati is roughly translated in Skull Shinning Kriya.
Kapalabhati in Sanskrit is a combination of two words, Kapala which is referred to as “Skull” whereas Bhati is a “Light”.
The true purpose of performing this kriya is to detoxify the whole energy system.
At the physical level, it has a lot of benefits which we are going to discuss soon. But, with respect to the energy level, it has a tremendous effect.
Practitioner Level
All the kriyas are at the advanced level, the reason why we say it is advanced is that it mostly concerned with the energy level rather than at the physical level.
When the changes happen at the energy system, naturally improvements get reflected at the physical level too.
This is an advanced level kriya which can be performed by the one who is already been practicing the yogasanas or pranayamas taught in our previous sections.
Do check out our yogasanas section to learn yogasanas from the scratch to advanced level.
Do check out our pranayamas section to learn pranayamas from the scratch to advanced level.
The yoga practitioners will get more benefit out of it.
However, it is useful for beginners too. If you are just starting off, ensure you stick to the practice and reap the benefits over a period of time.
You can use the yogasana mat suggested below and the yoga dress for your convenience and sit in a comfortable posture and then you can start performing the yoga kriyas.
Kapalabhati Effects
Kapalabhati’s main effect is in purifying the blood and easy flow of blood to the brain which increases the oxygen supply to the brain.
The more oxygen supply the brain gets, effective will be the man’s functionalities in all the aspects of his life.
15 most wonderful benefits of Kapalabhati
- With the Practice of Kapalabhati, Lungs and Respiratory System cleansing will happen.
- Diaphragm and Abdominal Muscles get Strengthened.
- Develops a laser sharp focus.
- Kapalabhati Increases the Spiritual Heat.
- Increases oxygen supply to the brain.
- Kaplabhati Purifies the blood.
- Digestion Power gets rapidly increased.
- Calms down the mind.
- Kapalabhati helps in developing powerful attention.
- Cleansing of the Subtle Energy Pathways called Nadis.
- Kapalabhati not only cleanses the nervous system but also energizes it.
- Each time when you do Kapalabhati, more than 75% of your body toxins gets cleared.
- Increases the metabolism rate which will help in weight loss.
- Belly will be in a perfect shape.
- Rejuvinates the brain cells.
Preliminary Asanas
You can be in any of the comfortable sitting asana or postures such as Padmasana, Siddhasana, Vajrasana.
If you are not comfortable in any of the postures mentioned above, you can simply cross your legs and sit in a Sukhasana.
If you have any problems sitting on the ground, you can sit on a chair and start practicing the Kapalabhati or any other kriyas.
How to do Kapalabhati?
Here is a step by step procedure on how to do Kapalabhati.
- Sit on your yoga mat comfortably with the preferred or most comfortable yogasana for you.
- Ensure your spine should be erect and at ease.
- Take a few deep breaths and make your body and mind comfortable to start the practice.
- Slowly inhale with awareness completely on your breath.
- Rapidly exhale through your nose.
- Contract lower belly while exhaling.
- Focus your attention at the navel while exhaling. This will help release all the toxins stored up at the solax plexus chakra.
- Do this for 1 cycle which consists of 5-10 times repetition.
- Do Kapalabhati for 20-30 cycles that are around 100 times of rapid exhalation.
- The exhalation in Kapalabhati is created only by the inward-thrusting abdomen, not by any accessory muscles.
- No effort to be made during kapalbhati kriya during inhalation.
- Inhalation should be smooth but exhalation should be forceful.
- Awareness should be on the exhalation.
Kapalabhati Video
Please do watch the below video for better clarity on practicing the yoga kriya.
Follow-up Yoga Kriyas after Vasti Kriya (Basti Kriya)
You can do any of the 5 yoga kriyas before doing Vasti Kriya (Basti Kriya).
Do check out them for more information on list of all Yoga Kriyas.
Want to be a Mudra Expert?
Do check out these 34 fascinating books on Yogasana to Yoga Kriyas for beginner to advanced levels for more information.
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