Kapalbhati/Skull Shining Breath for Motivation
About the Above Image: For clarity and more advantageously, breath practice would be conducted on a flat, sturdy surface, such as the floor or a chair. This image is mainly to offer an excellent example of clasped hands with open palms.
For introduction's sake, Kapalbhati/Skull Shining Breath was included because it offers the example of a practice for motivation. Continue reading to find out more.
Breath Practice Considerations
This is an introduction to Beginners' Pranayama, Breath & Balance of Kapalbhati/Skull Shining Breath for motivation. Keep in mind, the following practices are for general informational purposes. In order to experience a more defined scope of what may work best for you as an individual, it may require more external research outside of this community or by visiting a guide in your local environment for in-person experiences before conducting at home. Some individuals feel comfortable conducting breath practice at home from the very beginning. Be sure to take into account your state of health or condition before breath practice, and always refer to your licensed healthcare provider if you have existing conditions that may not be conducive to practice, or you experience abnormal discomfort while conducting breath practices. In my experience, it has been recommended that breath practice should not be conducted exactly after eating a meal, Assisting Inner Balance Through Yoga, Pranayama and Meditation. Similar to when exercising, if you have eaten, consider waiting a while before conducting breath practice. If you feel that you would like to conduct breath practice at any given time, even exactly after eating a meal, this is solely up to an individual but probably isn't most beneficial.
Kapalbhati, Breath Practice for Motivation
Kapalbhati is conducted by breathing out forcefully, concentrating on exhalation because inhalation is achieved more naturally with this practice. With breath practice, the discussion of ratios is usually listed, but with this practice, there really are no ratios, or at the most unsimilar to prior breath practices posted in the Community. Exhalations are counted, which are referred to as pumps. For a beginner, they may start with practice by completing 5 pumps/exhalations in which they breathe forcefully through the nostrils. Each pump is a 1-2 count. So, 1 pump would be counted as One-two, the next would be counted as One-two, the third would be counted as One-two, and so on. Meaning on One, that is the forceful exhalation or outward breath, and on two, that is the natural moment of inhalation. As a beginner, it's beneficial to begin with 5 Pumps/Exhalations and gradually extend practice if that's within individual comfortableness. Always pay attention to the body's response to avoid overexertion and abnormal discomfort.
Kapal means Skull and Bhati means Shining. Breathing practices are known to be extremely efficient in assisting with the support of complementary change in the body and mind. Particularly, Kapalbhati is believed to assist with the removal of mental fatigue, purification of the brain, expelling stale air from the lungs, and improving digestion.
The counts below begin with 5 Pumps/Exhalations by breathing out forcefully and allowing the Natural Moment of Inhalation on 2 of the 1-2 count. Then, the following counts extend accordingly.
First Round, 5 Pumps/Exhalations
Begin with exhaling all the air from the lungs through the nose in an appropriate, relaxed position, then a natural breath in:
Begin by lightly positioning clasped hands with open palms on the stomach, so they can act as a guide to reasonably press onto the stomach while exhaling pumps of air out of the lungs through the nostrils.
1st Pump on the Count of 1, Natural Moment of Inhalation on the 2 count
2nd Pump on the Count of 1, Natural Moment of Inhalation on the 2 count
3rd Pump on the Count of 1, Natural Moment of Inhalation on the 2 count
4th Pump on the Count of 1, Natural Moment of Inhalation on the 2 count
5th Pump on the Count of 1, Natural Moment of Inhalation on the 2 count
Afterwards, return to normal, relaxed breathing and check in with the body and mind's response by awareness of how you are feeling. Do you feel motivated or energized? Was the practice challenging? Do you feel breath practice is right for you? Do you feel more practice and application is needed to improve your experiences in the future? Is your body able to smoothly transition back after completing this ratio or duration?...
More Advanced
First Round, 10 Pumps/Exhalations
Begin with exhaling all the air from the lungs through the nose in an appropriate, relaxed position, then a natural breath in:
Begin by lightly positioning clasped hands with open palms on the stomach, so they can act as a guide to reasonably press onto the stomach while exhaling pumps of air out of the lungs through the nostrils.
1st Pump on the Count of 1, Natural Moment of Inhalation on the 2 count
2nd Pump on the Count of 1, Natural Moment of Inhalation on the 2 count
3rd Pump on the Count of 1, Natural Moment of Inhalation on the 2 count
4th Pump on the Count of 1, Natural Moment of Inhalation on the 2 count
5th Pump on the Count of 1, Natural Moment of Inhalation on the 2 count
6th Pump on the Count of 1, Natural Moment of Inhalation on the 2 count
7th Pump on the Count of 1, Natural Moment of Inhalation on the 2 count
8th Pump on the Count of 1, Natural Moment of Inhalation on the 2 count
9th Pump on the Count of 1, Natural Moment of Inhalation on the 2 count
10th Pump on the Count of 1, Natural Moment of Inhalation on the 2 count
Afterwards, return to normal, relaxed breathing and check in with the body and mind's response by awareness of how you are feeling. Do you feel motivated or energized? Was the practice challenging? Do you feel breath practice is right for you? Do you feel more practice and application is needed to improve your experiences in the future? Is your body able to smoothly transition back after completing this ratio or duration?...
Additional Information
Usually, Full Rounds are considered to be around 30 to 50 Pumps for Kapalbhati, Breath Practice for Motivation. Remember, as a beginner, it's beneficial to begin with 5 Pumps/Exhalations and gradually extend practice if that's within individual comfortableness. Always pay attention to the body's response to avoid overexertion and abnormal discomfort.
Reminders
Understand that engagement with the above is of sole discretion. Refer to the beginning of this post for some general considerations regarding breath practice. Initially, searching for a local qualified guide may be most beneficial for a more personable monitored experience, especially considering the state of health or condition. Inquire with your licensed healthcare provider if there are any existing conditions that may not be conducive to practice, being that only a few are mentioned in this community or on this site. Visit Variances/Differences of Breathing to understand how different each individual's body can be, which will determine adjustments or growth in ratio/duration for breath practice.
Now that you have been introduced to the Uttejak or Exciting, Motivational Practice, Kapalbhati/Skull Shining Breath, what are your thoughts?
This information is provided for general informational purposes and is not a substitute or definitive to replace physicians' care.