It has often been said that a disease free body should be the starting ground for yogasanas and pranayama. Yoga, as a general way of living and as a form of exercise, is a great way to cleanse and detoxify the body and mind. It helps relieve your body of stress as well as helps in the removal of toxins that can contribute to diseases and conditions - both physically and mentally. There are six specific cleansing techniques that exist, known as Shat Kriyas. These cleansing techniques eliminate impurities and may help cure many ailments including lung conditions, and even hair loss.

Kapalbhati Kriya

The word kapalbhati comes from the words kapala and bhati which means skull and shine respectively. The Kapalbhati kriya is a respiratory exercise designed to specifically target the abdomen and diaphragm. This exercise purifies the channels inside the nose as well as the other parts of the entire respiratory system. The brain is also cleared in this process.

Kapalbhati by Swami Ramdev Ji

Doing the Kapalbhati exercises can help you in inhaling a good amount of oxygen. This purifies your blood and at the same time, helps in strengthening your nerve and brain centers. Kapalbhati Kriya provides relief for people who suffer from lung, chest, and throat diseases such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, tuberculosis, and pleurisy.

To perform this exercise, you will need to sit in a position you are comfortable in, preferably in the padmasana. When in the seating position, ensure that your back and neck are straight, with your head in an upright position. Do not slack or slouch your trunk and remain in a calm and relaxed position. You can shut your eyes lightly.

Start by exercising the diaphragm. To do this, exhale suddenly and quickly through both your nostrils. You will produce a hissing sound if you do this properly. Inhaling should be automatic. Exhale the air from the lungs through the use of a sudden and vigorous inward movement of the front abdominal muscles. This abdominal movement should be complete to expel the breath fully.

The abdominal muscles should be in a relaxed state when you inhale, avoiding any expansion in the abdominal muscles. The Kapalbhati Kriya exercises must be done in three phase, with each phase consisting of twenty to thirty abdominal strokes per minute. You may take a bit of rest in between each phase. While doing the exercises, keep the thoracic muscle contracted.

People who suffer from heart diseases or high blood pressure are not recommended to practice kapalbhati kriya; however, if they choose to do so, it is recommended to only start this practice after consulting a physician. People who have diabetes and peptic ulcers are also advised against doing kapalbhati kriya.

The Kapalbhati kriya is considered to be a very important process for cleansing the body. Doing this exercise helps rejuvenate the entire nervous system. The kapalbhati kriya oxygenates the body and strengthens the respiratory system. Regularly doing this exercise may also help reduce the excess fat in the stomach as well as decrease the cold condition of the lungs.