Clear Your Mind - The practice of kapalabhati - Janet Webb

Think of kapalabhati as a lotus flower. India’s most sacred plant can be eaten (it makes a tasty lotus root curry), taken medicinally, or worshipped as a symbol of spiritual abundance. This breathing practice is just as versatile. On a practical level, the technique clears respiratory and nasal passages. It massages abdominal organs, stimulates digestion, and enhances concentration by improving blood flow to the brain. Some yoga experts even say including kapalabhati in your practice can enhance immunity.

Spiritually speaking, kapalabhati clears the mind and sets the stage for pranayama and meditation. The rapid exhalations stimulate the flow of the life-force (prana) to the skull cavity and are said to awaken the energy of kundalini, our spiritual potential. And although the action takes place in the abdomen, the effect of kapalabhati is actually felt in the ajna chakra, the energy center between the eyebrows. With kapalabhati, you’ll perceive this part of the head like you never have before – without the usual rush of thoughts.

Kapalabhati is one of the six yogic purification techniques (shatkriyas). The other five are jala neti, dhauti, basti, nauli, and trataka. Jala neti, cleansing the nasal passages with salt water, treats sinus problems and increases sensitivity to the touch of air in the region of the ajna chakra. Dhauti entails cleansing the esophagus and stomach with water, a gastric tube, or a strip of cloth. Basti is the yogic equivalent of an enema. In nauli, the isolation and rolling of abdominal muscles benefits abdominal organs and alleviates specific problems (e.g., constipation). Trataka, or steady gazing at an object, improves vision and aids concentration.

Some of these practices are done periodically or for specific conditions, while others (such as jala neti and kapalabhati) are recommended as part of a daily hygiene routine. Kapalabhati, which is most effective when practiced after jala neti, is considered beneficial both as a prelude to pranayama and for general health. Kapalabhati is ideal for those who experience fatigue, sinusitis, or headaches, and for those with weakened immune systems, says Richard Miller, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist in Sebastopol, California, and co-founder of the International Association of Yoga Therapy. Because kapalabhati has a warming effect, some teachers suggest avoiding it during the summer. All say that pregnant women and people who suffer from hernias, high blood pressure, and ulcers should not practice this kriya.

© "Yoga International" (November, 2002) published by Himalayan International Institute, Rural Route 1, Box 1130 Honesdale, Pennsylvania 18431. (Website: www.himalayaninstitute.org). Reprinted with permission.

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