Breathing for Stimulating Energy - Kapalabhati Pranayama - Open Awareness Yoga

In this video you'll learn skull shining breath, or kapalabhati pranayama. This breathing technique works to clear a foggy mind, stimulate mental and physical energy, and fire you up. It's exhilarating!

Practice on an empty stomach, blow your nose first, and do not do this breath right before bedtime.

Don't do this breath practice if you fit any of the following descriptions:

1. Those with ear or eye problems (for example: ear ache, detached retina, or glaucoma)
2. People with high or low blood pressure
3. If you're suffering from nose bleed, ear ache or throbbing in the ear. If any of these occur while practicing kapalabhati pranayama, discontinue the practice and consult with a trained yoga teacher.
4. If you're pregnant.

Practice Notes:

1. The pumping action in your low belly occurs beneath the navel, not at the navel. Place your palm beneath your navel and do a few practice pumps until you feel the action originating from this location.
2. Women may prefer to abstain from this practice during menstruation, as the pumping is quite vigorous at the uterus.
3. As late master teacher B.K.S. Iyengar says, stop the practice the moment irritation or strain is felt.

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Questions on kapalabhati pranayama? Did you feel the lift in your energy? Do you have any requests for future videos? Please leave a comment below and share this with a friend who needs a little kick in the pants from time to time. I’m here for you.

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