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By JEN MULSON, THE GAZETTE
Did you know you have your own internal space heater and brain booster?
It’s called your breath. In yoga, not only is the body manipulated in asanas (postures), but the breath can be, too. It is controlled in varying ways to produce different responses.
Kapalabhati, sometimes kapalbhati, is a particular breath that helps build heat in the body and invigorate your mind. In Sanskrit, “kapala” means “skull” and “bhati” means “illuminating.” Sometimes the practice is referred to as skull-shining breath.
Try it:
Come to a comfortable seated position, cross-legged, kneeling or even sitting up tall in a chair. Put one hand on your midsection, right around your belly button. You’ll be able to feel your abdominal muscles work.
Take a few deep inhales and complete exhales through the nose. You’ll keep your mouth closed throughout the practice, breathing only through the nose. This breath work uses forced exhalations and passive inhalations. That means you won’t really worry about taking an inhale, they will happen naturally.
Now inhale to a comfortable level and forcefully press a short burst of air out through your nose. Feel your stomach contract. Without inhaling, keep pushing short, hard breaths out through your nose over and over. You’ll feel your belly pump in and out with each one. Go at a steady pace and do 25-30 repetitions. Then stop and take a deep inhale and exhale. Try three rounds of kapalabhati.
If you’re not sure what this breath is supposed to feel or sound like, I’ve heard it described another way that was helpful to me. Imagine a panting dog with its mouth open, tongue dangling and rapid, shallow breath in and out through the mouth. Even try it. Pant. Now close your mouth and keep up the panting, only forcing the exhales out through your nose at a steady pace.
Not only can this breath warm you up from the inside out, but it can be a fantastic bit of prep for a big test or presentation. Just like its name, it polishes up your skull and what’s inside your skull. This breath is said to also detoxify the lungs and nasal passages, stimulate digestion and strengthen the abdominal muscles.
• It’s contraindicated for pregnancy, high blood pressure or heart disease.
• Practice on an empty stomach.
• Stop if you get dizzy or light-headed.
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Jennifer Mulson teaches yoga at CorePower Yoga in Colorado Springs.
Contact Jennifer Mulson: 636-0277, Twitter @jennifermulson
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