Last month we described Nadi Sodhana Pranayama known as alternate nostril breathing. This month we are focusing on Kapala-bhati Pranayama.

‘Kapala' means forehead and ‘bhati' means light.

Kapala-bhati Technique:

Sit in a comfortable position like padmasana

1. Keep the back straight and rigid
2. Stretch the arms out straight and rest the back of the wrists on your knees. Join the tips of the index fingers to the tips of the thumbs, keeping the other fingers extended. (This position or gesture of the hand is known as Jnana Mudra, the symbol or seal of knowledge)
3. Close your eyes as you keep your neck in alignment with your spine.
4. Now the kapala-bhati method of breathing begins
5. Take a fast vigorous breath and exhale fast and forcefully. One inhalation and one exhalation completes one cycle of kapala-bhati
6. Breathing out forcefully is the key to the method
7. Ensure that the only movement in your body is from your abdomen. Your spine should stay straight throughout
8. Repeat this for 5 minutes every morning

Kapala-bhati pranayama is a classic cleansing exercise in yoga particularly effective in lowering carbon dioxide in the lungs thus benefiting other organs in your body like your liver, kidneys, intestine etc…

After completing this exercise you will feel energized and may even notice as the name of the pranayama suggested luminosity on your skin and face.

Look out for another yoga update next month.