Kapalabati (rapid abdominal breathing)

In Hatha yoga, Kapalabati is classified as both a krya (cleaning practice) and a pranayama (breathing practice). It is a powerful and most useful practice that is best learned from  competent teacher well versed in its practice. Faulty practice can lead to serious problems (this is true of all pranayama practices), so if you are learning by yourself or from videos, we recommend you attend one of your onlline clinics.

Although it is usually translated as Rapid Abdominal Breathing, Kapalabati should really be called sharp abdominal breathing, as putting emphasis on speed from the beginning is likely to lead to faulty practice. It is essential that the exhalation in Kapalabati is sharp and extremely short.
Another essential characteristic of the breath in Kapalabati is that it is very shallow. It stands to reason that the breath should be extremely shallow in Kapalabati, as an experienced practitioner might be breathing at up to 120 breaths a minute. more than twenty times their normal breathing speed.

Finally, the inhalation part of the breath should be very soft and passive, never active. This is the main difference between Kapalatati and Bastrika.

1. Sit comfortably and start by just observing your natural breath (Anapanasati). Pay attention to the movement of the breath in the abdomen.
2. Take a normal inhalation, then pull the abdominal muscles in SHARPLY to exhale rapidly through the nose. The exhalation must be very sharp.
3. Relax (smile, it helps) and let the breath flow in naturally.
4. Pull the abdominal muscles in sharply to exhale sharply through the nose.
5. Repeat step 3 and 4, focusing on the sharpness of the exhalation and the softness of the inhalation.
6. After ten rounds, take a long inhalation followed by a slow exhalation

If you get tensed, dizzy or light-headed, you are doing it wrong. The practice must be very soft and relaxed and the breath very shallow.