Kapapati breath,
This beautiful pranayama is a very strong breathwork technique.
It's engaged with to amplify the movement of vital life force through the nadis and chakras of the energy body.
The translation of kapapati breath is light skull breath.
If the practice is performed incorrectly it creates a hyperventilation in the body which makes the participant feel dizzy but that's not the true meaning of the light skull breath.
When the practitioner knows how to move through their awareness the increased vital life force in their system through engaging deeply with the pranayama,
Very often they will be able to perceive the energy body behind closed eyes in the form of bright colour,
Patterns,
Rippling movement and sensations.
This is the true meaning and purpose of kapapati breath.
The practice is performed sitting upright and it is a series of rapid sharp inhalations and exhalations through the nose.
The focus with kapapati is on pushing out the exhalation and then the inhalation following that is almost passive,
A natural filling of the lungs that were emptied by the strong exhalation.
The body should be upright and relatively still during the pumping action and the movement is in the abdominal muscles so you can see the stomach pumping as you breathe.
In this sequence we will enter meditation and participate in 35 pumps of the kapapati breath.
You'll then be guided into a yogic breath,
A hold of the bandhas and the breath,
An exhalation and then we will repeat that sequence two more times,
Three back to back smooth swift sequences of the kapapati breath.
Adjusting your posture and bringing some length into the spine,
Shoulders down and back bringing space into the chest for your breathwork.
If you want to you can put the right palm of the hand over the belly so you can better sense the movement of the abdomen,
The heat of the chakra manipura.
And now our practice of kapapati breath will begin so firstly taking a lovely big breath filling the whole of the lungs,
The whole of the chest and exhaling fully allowing all the air to stream from your nose and taking a half breath in and pump.
Exhale fully,
Take a big yogic breath in,
Filling from the bottom of the belly all the way up to the top of the chest and hold the breath.
You can drop the chin to the chest,
Gently pull the pelvic floor,
Hold and release,
Allow all of the air to leave your body.
Take a cleansing breath in and out,
Half breath in and pump.
Exhale fully,
Take a big yogic breath in filling from the pubic bone all the way up to your collar bone and hold the breath,
Drop the chin,
Pull up the pelvic floor,
Hold and release.
Take a lovely cleansing breath in and out,
Half breath in last round and pump.
Exhale fully,
Take a big yogic breath in filling from the base of the body all the way up to the top of the chest,
Hold the breath and release,
Allow all of the air to stream from your body.
Invite your natural breath to return,
A wider space,
A calmer inner vibe.
Watch your breath settle into your own rhythm,
Space in the mind,
In the heart and in your fields of choice.
Now keeping the eyes closed,
Bring the hands together and rub the hands gently to generate some warmth with the friction.
Place warm palms over closed eyes and take a moment to observe what you perceive on the inner.
You may be aware of a colour or colours or rippling patterns.
For some it appears like a TV station in between channels,
A white static.
This is your spacious awareness perceiving vital life force,
Always there,
Always humming,
But so rarely perceived.
And gently,
Gently arrive back into your physical body.
Bringing movement to toes and fingers,
Feel the sensation of the natural breath moving in and out of your body.
Become aware of where you are.
And when you're ready you can gently open your eyes.
