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Pranayama- Kapalbhati
Jean-Claude Rawady
12 September 2023 • Duration: 11 Minutes
Kapalbhati pranayama is a wonderful breathing technique that involves powerful rapid exhalations followed by short & passive inhalations. The following inhale is an automatic response from the lungs being empty.
Home » Articles » Yoga » Pranayama » Learn Kapalbhati Pranayama – Skull Shining Breath

Learn Kapalbhati Pranayama – Skull Shining Breath Ashish January 2, 2022 18 Comments
kapalbhati pranayama, steps, benefits & precautions
Do you know what makes kapalbhati the most practised breathing exercise of yoga – its ability to detoxify the body.


In each stroke of kapalbhati, a normal person expels 100 ml extra carbon die oxide (CO2) than normal breathing. This means more toxins are released through the outgoing breath.

Kapalbhati pranayama is a wonderful breathing technique that involves powerful rapid exhalations followed by short & passive inhalations. The following inhale is an automatic response from the lungs being empty.

This technique of forced exhalation helps to reduce stress, boost brain function, and improve respiratory health. It also strengthens the abdominal muscles and improves digestion.
Home » Articles » Yoga » Pranayama » Learn Kapalbhati Pranayama – Skull Shining Breath

Learn Kapalbhati Pranayama – Skull Shining Breath Ashish January 2, 2022 18 Comments
kapalbhati pranayama, steps, benefits & precautions
Do you know what makes kapalbhati the most practised breathing exercise of yoga – its ability to detoxify the body.


In each stroke of kapalbhati, a normal person expels 100 ml extra carbon die oxide (CO2) than normal breathing. This means more toxins are released through the outgoing breath.

Kapalbhati pranayama is a wonderful breathing technique that involves powerful rapid exhalations followed by short & passive inhalations. The following inhale is an automatic response from the lungs being empty.

This technique of forced exhalation helps to reduce stress, boost brain function, and improve respiratory health. It also strengthens the abdominal muscles and improves digestion.

In this article, we’ll look more closely at the benefits of Kapalbhati pranayama and provide detailed steps for how to do it.

What is Kapalbhati?
Kapalbhati is a basic breathing technique of yoga (Pranayama). It comprises short, powerful exhales and gentle inhales synch with abdominal movement. As you inhale deeply through both nostrils, expand the chest and abdomen. While exhaling, rapidly draw the abdomen back and expel the air out. Exhale will automatically be followed by a short inhale and then exhale as previously.

However today it’s practised as pranayama, in the ancient yogic text Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Kapalbhati is mentioned as one of the “shat kriya” or “six cleansing techniques” of yoga.

When practicing Kapalbhati, you are essentially cleansing the frontal lobes of your brain. Moreover, it also clears the nasal passage and improves the efficiency of the respiratory system.

In contrast to normal breathing, where inhale is active and exhale is passive, during kapalbhati, you inhale passively and exhale forcefully. The exhale, which requires you to contract your abdominal muscles, is the main focus of this pranayama.
Kapalbhati means “Skull Shinning”
Kapalbhati literally translates as “skull shining”. In the Sanskrit word Kapalbhati, kapal means ‘skull or frontal head‘ and bhati means ‘shinning‘.

Through the practice of kapalbhati, it has been seen, practitioner’s forehead, skin start shining and the efficiency of the frontal brain increases. As you practice it, after a few times, you can feel the lightness in the head and your skull being filled with light. Therefore, they call it “skull shining breath” or Kapalbhati pranayama.

Kapalbhati pranayama is also called “Breath of fire