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Kapalbhati Pranayam

This Pranayam can be practiced in any position. It can be


practiced in either sleeping, or standing, or sitting position. If it
is to be performed in standing position, then one should take
the precaution of not keeping any hard furniture near the place
of Pranayam. One should have loose clothes while performing
the Pranayam. In sitting posture, Sukhasan is the most
suitable for the purpose. Both the hands can be kept on the
knee joint if it is a sitting posture, or it can be kept on the waist
if it is a standing posture. Eyes should be kept closed.
Start taking deep and quick breaths. Respiration should be
fast and deep. In normal breathing the respiratory rate is 15 to
18 per/minute. But in Kapalbhati Pranayam, the rate can
reach up to 60 to 100 per/minute. Breathing should be

forceful. Most of the time breathing is abdominal; i.e.


abdominal muscles are more active than chest muscles. There
should be more emphasis on the Rechak component. Efforts
should be made to have a forceful Rechak. Exhalation is the
active process in this Pranayam. The practitioner tries to bring
out the air forcibly.
With the forceful contraction of the abdominal muscles; one
can create positive pressure in the chest. The positive pressure
in the chest will push the air outside. As soon as the air is
pushed outside, there will be negative pressure in the chest.
This negative pressure will pull the air inside the lung. Again
with the movement of the abdominal muscles one can push the
air outside. So in the Kapalbhati Pranayam, Rechak is an active
componant, while Purak is a passive componant. Kapalbhati
can be done for 50 to 60 times in the beginning. Later on with
practice, the number can be raised to 100 to 200 times. In the
later stage one can perform Kapalbhati Pranayam, for 7 to 10
minutes. As soon as the process is completed, one should relax
completely for 8 to 10 minutes. A person in the standing
posture can lie down on the ground and relax. While a person
in the sitting or supine position can remain in the same
position and relax. One should keep the eyes closed while
relaxing. This state of relaxation may lead to the state of
meditation. It is easier to enter into the state of meditation
after Kapalbhati.
Speedy breathing helps to clear all the thoughts from the mind.
Thus the mind will attain the state of thoughtlessness for a
short period of time.
In Yogic terms, Kapalbhati is meant for Deh-shudhi. It means
internal cleansing of the body. There are five types of cleansing
procedures in yoga. These are known as Neti, Dhoti, Basti,
Nehli, and Kapalbhati.

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