Yoga is an ancient Indian practice that has been in the culture for many centuries. It is a spiritual, mental and physical exercise that is done to enhance overall well-being. Because of the immense benefits it offers, it has become a popular form of exercise in the west. Among the many yoga asanas, Kapalbhati Pranayama is one of the well-known pranayama breathing and is known for its many health advantages. Read below to know more about Kapalbhati pranayama benefits.
What is Kapalbhati Pranayama?
It is a type of breathing exercise that enhances the health and well-being of a practitioner. Kapala means skull, and Bhati is illumination in Sanskrit, and the meaning of Kapalbhati Pranayama means illumination of the skull. It is a therapy that cleanses the body and removes negative thoughts, toxins and stress in the body. It is a yoga technique where breathing exercises are done sitting in a particular pose. There are three types of Kapalbhati Pranayama:
Vyutkrama
It is a Kapalabhati Pranayama where you inhale water through the nose and allow it to enter the mouth, and then spew it out.
Vatakrama
This is another type of Kapalbhati Pranayama, which is one of the sleep-easy solutions. In this exercise, the practitioner sits on the floor cross-legged and breathes. It is a Kapalbhati Pranayama type where the exhalation is done actively and inhalation in a passive manner.
Sheetkrama
It is the opposite of Vyutkrama. In this Kapalbhati Pranayama, you drink water through the mouth and remove it through the nose.
Kapalbhati Pranayama Benefits
Kapalbhati Pranayama is one of the Shuddi Kriya or cleansing techniques. It is also known to be a purification technique of the frontal brain. Some of the Kapalbhati pranayama benefits are:
Benefits for those with type 2 Diabates
It is said to be very useful for those with type 2 diabetes. It is a forceful breathing exercise where there is pressure on the abdomen because of exhalations. That is believed to aid in the stimulation of the pancreas and secrete blood sugar-regulating insulin. So the Kapalbhati pranayama is useful in managing type 2 diabetes.
Balances Kapha
One of the main reasons for illness in people is Kapha. Kapalabhati Pranayama, by nature, is Kaphahara which means it can remove excess Kapha or phlegm. With regular practice of this exercise, one can get rid of sinuses, cough and other difficulties. It is also one of the sleep easy solutions if excess Kapha is causing sleep issues.
Frontal Brain Purification
Kapalbhati Pranayama means forehead illumination and is also known as frontal brain purification in English. It helps to increase the flow of the cerebrospinal fluid and cleanse the frontal brain lobe. It has a massaging effect on the brain that is 3x to 7x more than normal breathing. This is also one of the sleep easy solutions because of that.
Relieves Anxiety and Stress
These are some of the common problems of everyday life. These can be eased by doing Kapalbhati Pranayama. Adding it to your everyday routine can ease the work and life pressure and help you handle situations better. It effectively reduces tension by triggering relaxation and is a sleep-easy solution wherein you can get sleep without any sleep-inducing medications.
Balances the Mind
Kapalbhati Pranayama has many mental health benefits apart from the advantages it offers for physical health. Regularly performing this breathing technique stimulates the nerves in the brain and increases the Urja or energy to improve the overall performance of the brain. Because of this stimulation, the mind has a calming effect and is balanced. So it is one of the sleep easy solutions.
Better Blood Flow
The Kapalbhati pranayama has many heart benefits and also reduces high blood pressure. When practised regularly, this increases blood circulation and addresses the problems of thinning hair, dry skin, and other allergies. Doing this breathing technique, even for a short time of 15 to 20 minutes, can increase the blood flow and aid many critical organs of the body. It is also one of the ways how to sleep easy.
Improves Digestion and Metabolism
The digestive fire is an important element in the digestive system. When this is not present at optimal levels, it can lead to stomach issues like bloating, indigestion, etc. If you are having digestive issues, add the Kapalbhati pranayama to your yoga and it can stimulate the digestive system and the metabolism. All this helps to fall asleep easily.
Get Sound Sleep
If you are not getting enough sleep and wondering how to sleep easy, doing this Kapalbhati Pranayama breathing technique automatically resolves sleep-related problems. A study conducted on the Kapalbhati Pranayama benefits shows that it reduced insomnia and improved psychosomatic health. So is considered a sleep easy solution.
Removes Body Toxins
There are a huge number of pollutants in the body that gets accumulated because of lifestyle and factors. While a majority of them are removed as faeces a small part of them remains in the body that gets accumulated over time. One of the major Kapalbhati Pranayama benefits is that it removes impurities and toxins. The Kapalbhati Pranayama improves blood circulation and revitalizes the organs. The Kapalabhati Pranayama benefits are huge and proves that adding Kapalbhati pranayama to your yoga routine is worthwhile. But ensure that you learn the proper technique to get the best results out of it.
