Yoga Breathing Exercise Kapalbhati Benefits and Its Dangers

In Sanskrit Kapal means forehead and Bhati in Sanskrit means shining. Practicing Kapalbhati on a regular basis leads to shining face with inner radiance. Kapalbhati is a highly energizing abdominal breathing exercise. In kapalbhati quick exhalation and natural inhalation are performed.

Quick exhalation generally takes about one fourth of the time of inhalation. Quick exhalation and natural inhalation follow each other.

Yogic breathing exercises were meant for preparing mind for meditation and were not designed as remedy for diseases though these exercise promote well being in general.

Regular practice of Yoga exercises do help in cleansing the lungs and entire respiratory system, purifying the blood and the body gets an increased supply of oxygen to all its cells.

Breathing exercise also helps in improving the digestive system, strengthening abdominal muscle as well as energising the mind for mental work.

How to do Kapalbhati Pranayama:

Step 1) Sit in comfortable crossed leg position with Back straight. Hands resting on knees in either chin or gyana mudra. Face to be relaxed.

Step 2) Inhale deeply through both nostrils, expanding abdomen and exhale with the forceful contraction of abdominal muscles. (Pull the abdomen in by quickly contracting the abdominal muscles and exhale through the nose). The air is pushed out of lungs by contraction of the diaphragm.

Step 3) After exhalation again inhalation but inhalation should not involve any effort. To inhale just relax and the lungs will automatically expand and filled with air. One can begin with 10 respiration. After completing 10 quick exhalation and natural inhalation, inhale and exhale deeply. This is one round. One can start the practice of Kapalbhati pranayama with 3 such rounds for practice.

However numerous benefits of kapalbhati as described by modern day yoga gurus as panacea for many major illnesses are far from truth, misleading and even dangerous.

In fact kapalbhati though beneficial for a healthy person can be dangerous for many people if they are suffering from conditions such as:
a) Heart disease
b) High blood pressure
c) A hernia

In addition this exercise should never be practiced when an asthmatic attack is in progress, or if pain or dizziness is experienced. Quick exhalation should be comfortable to oneself, i.e. quick exhalation should not be too forceful as suggested by many Indian yoga gurus.

Following are the common mistake observed among the participants while practicing kapalbhati pranayam:
1) Abdomen is contracted while inhaling.
2) Shoulders are contracted to push the air out when exhaling.

Additional Point to remember:
a) Exercise should not be done if you are feeling uncomfortable at any time during the exercise.
b) Kapalbhati should be practice on an empty stomach only.
c) Kapalbhati should be practiced after the asanas and Relaxation (atleast 10 minutes) and before meditation

It is extremely important that one should first explain his/her health condition to their yoga teacher before beginning any yoga exercise.

Ignorance on the part of yoga teacher and participant can be very dangerous and can bring more harm to practitioner instead of benefits.

Issued in public interest by Subodh Gupta, an author and celebrity personal yoga trainer in London.

Subodh Gupta has been interviewed by various TV channels and his views and articles appear regularly in magazines and newspapers in India and the UK.

http://www.yoga-london.org.uk