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KAPALBHATI PRANAYAMA
Kapalbhati Pranayama (frontal brain cleansing breath)
Sit in any comfortable meditation asana; padmasana, as a first choice, or siddha/siddha yoni asana, with the head and spine straight and the hands resting on the knees in either chin orjnana mudra. Close the eyes and relax the whole body. Inhale deeply through both nostrils, expanding the abdomen, and exhale with a forceful contraction of the abdominal muscles. Do not strain. The next inhalation takes place by passively allowing the abdominal muscles to expand. Inhalation should be a spontaneous or passive recoil, involving no effort. Perform 10 respirations to begin with. Count each respiration mentally. After completing 10 rapid breaths in succession, inhale and exhale deeply. This is one round. Practise 3 to 5 rounds. After completing the practice, maintain awareness of the void in the region of the eyebrow centre, feeling an all
pervading emptiness and calm. Breathing: It is important that the rapid breathing used in
these techniques be from the abdomen and not from the chest. The number of respirations may be increased from the initial count of 10 up to 20, as the abdominal muscles
become stronger. Duration: Up to 5 rounds of 10 to 20 breaths.
Advanced practitioners may extend the number of rounds to 10 or more; longer periods than this should only be
practised under expert guidance. Awareness: Physical - on rhythmic breathing, keeping count
of the respirations. Spiritual - on chidakasha or the void at the eyebrow centre.
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