Kapalabhati Breath, is a type of breathing exercise that is done in many yoga classes. The English translation of Kapalabhati pranayama is skull shining breath. Kapalabhati is intense. This form of breathing will not only release toxins and stress from your body, but it can also strengthen your abdominal muscles. Who doesn't want strong abs, seriously?!?!?
You may now wonder, why should I do Kapalabhati breathing? One reason and probably the most important in my eyes, is that Kapalabhati clears the mind. In all fairness, how could you think about the one hundred million events that happened to you, while you are focusing so hard on contracting your diaphragm in synchronization with your breath?I guarantee you, your mind will be so focused on preforming this breathing exercise, that you will not think of anything else. Another reason to try skull shinning breath, is that it strengthens your diaphragm and abdominal muscles. Strengthening the abs should be a reason enough, but the diaphragm is important too. Let's say you're an endurance athlete. Oxygen fuels your body and keeps you from getting fatigued. If you strengthen your diaphragm which in turn will improve the oxygen flow in your body, then you can preform your desired sport for even longer. Did I hear anyone say double spin followed by a yoga class?
So now you're probably jumping up and down screaming I want to try the Kapalabhati pranayama, but you don't know how to. Lucky for you, I do and I'm willing to teach you.
STEPS FOR KAPALABHATI PRANAYAMA:
1: Sit on your knees (with good posture, no slouching please) or for an added challenge go to chair pose.
2: Take a deep breath in through your nose and out through your mouth, easy enough.
3: Inhale deeply through your nose, filling your body only 3/4 of the way full.
4: Very quickly, release air from your lungs while contracting/ pulling your belly all the way towards the spine. Preform this motion about 8-10 times for every exhale/ inhale cycle. At first try to do this 20 times, then as you become more advance, try for 100.
I hope that this explanation of Kapalabhati pranayama was helpful. Now if you want to clear your mind or strengthen your diaphragm and abs, you can say, pheww I have a solution, I'm going to do Kapalabhati breathing, see you in five minutes (that's all it takes).