Echo Yoga Studio
Day 6 Kapalabhati. Skull shining breath
Pranayama: Kapalbhati Breath.
Shining skull breath,
Kapalabhati consists of alternating short, explosive exhales and slightly longer, passive inhales. Exhales are generated by powerful contractions of the lower belly (between the pubis and navel), which push air out of the lungs. Inhales are responses to the release of this contraction, which sucks air back into the lungs.
The rapid, forced exhalations we use in this technique reduces CO2 levels in the blood and increases O2 availability, Your cells are already pumped full of oxygen so there is less of an urgent need to inhale more air.
But the successive, rapid, forceful exhalations we do in Kapalabhati provides “a total cleansing of the lungs” according to André van Lysebeth. In his book, “Pranayama The Energetics of Breath”, he states this is a good preventative measure against tuberculosis.
This increase of Oxygen, the rhythm, and new prana coursing through the body helps eliviate low, flat feelings.... it is a perfect way to start the morning!
*disclaimer, if you are on your period or pregnancy, please do not performing this breathing technique