Kapalbhati Pranayama Steps and Benefits

https://www.rishikeshyogisyogshala.org/kapalbhati-pranayama/ Kapalbhati is a practice which can help you to refresh, reset and rejuvenate in your daily life. The word Kapal is a Sanskrit word meaning ‘forehead’ and bhati meaning ‘shining’. It is a hustle to keep yourself and your brain sane in today’s messy and fast-paced world. It is just not the stress from work that makes us burned out but the smallest things in life such as choosing what to wear, or making a right and healthy eating choices on a daily basis. Kapalbhati helps you to increase your intellect by focusing on your breath. It helps to clean the foggy brain and helps it to be more calm and composed when it comes to making small but important decisions on a day to day basis. There is no better way to balance and fuel the trinities of life i.e. mind, body, and soul. Breathing exercises or have been an important part of ancient Indian culture in the form of yoga from the past 5,000, the oldest natural science. Importance of Kapalbhati in Daily Life: Stress and anxiety are the two terms that have dominated the major part of our daily life. Kapalbhati is the best form of rejuvenation when it comes to pressing the reset button on life. The regular practice of Kapalbhati helps your body to absorb more fresh air daily basis and helps to improve the blood circulation within the body. Good blood circulation, especially in your brain helps to focus more and perform better in your daily life. How to Perform Kapalbhati Pranayama Sit on a hard surface with your spine erect to start with the process of Kapalbhati pranayama. You can either sit in a sukhasana (your legs crossed), Virasana (your legs bend and your shins tucked in under your thighs or on a chair while performing this pranayama. Place your hands on your knees with the palms facing up or you can place your hands one over the other in your lap for higher focus. Inhale air with both the nostrils. Exhale the air with a little forceful action and again breathe in. You can put your hand on your lower abdomen to feel the air gushing out of the body. Repeat the process for 20 minutes. Benefits of Kapalbhati Regular practice of kapalbhati can help you in losing your body fat, especially the belly area. Good blood circulation helps to improve the metabolism of the body which fuels the reduction of fat in your body. Increases the supply of blood to various parts of the body, hence increasing the overall health and functioning of the body. It helps in improving your memory and concentration by energizing your brain cells with the consistent practice of pranayama. Kapalbhati is one of the best pranayamas when it comes to balancing your chakras. This pranayama is very helpful in improving the digestion of the body. It is a very good practice when it comes to relieving stress and anxiety. It can enhance the beauty of your skin by fueling your body with fresh air and increased blood circulation. It is a very good practice when it comes to relaxing and de-stressing your body daily basis. Kapalbhati Pranayama Precautions  People suffering from abdomen ulcers should avoid doing Kapalbhati pranayama. This pranayama is a forceful breathing technique and requires a higher level of experience and therefore beginnings should begin with simple breathing techniques. Make sure you are not putting too much pressure while exhaling the air. If you feel dizzy while performing the practice, it is preferred to stop the practice until you feel better. Contraindication People with heart disease, hernia or severe condition regarding blood pressure should avoid doing kapalbhati pranayama. People who have gone through any recent abdomen surgery should practice it under professional guidance. Conclusion To conclude it all, Kapalbhati is a proven way of rejuvenating your body and getting rid of daily stress and anxiety. Our bodies need a daily escape towards relief and relaxation and having a daily dose of kapalbhati can significantly help you increase your concentration and improve your body functioning in your daily life. Though it is an advanced breathing technique but regular practice can help you to get better at it. It is a practice that can be easily practiced at home and a lot about this pranayama can be found on the internet as it is one of the best and most practiced pranayama of all due to its various benefits. Read More...  Read Less...

Ujjayi Breathing Guide

https://www.rishikeshyogisyogshala.org/ujjayi-breathing-guide/ Ujjayi Pranayama or the ocean breath means to be victorious or to conquer. Ujjayi is a Sanskrit word meaning victory.  Ujjayi Pranayama is a practice that can help get a sense of freedom from any restriction or bondage. In this pranayama, the pressure is applied at the back of your throat so while inhaling the air into your lungs a sound is created. This practice helps to keep your mind cool while making your body feel a sense of warmth and helps in balancing all the three doshas. Importance of Ujjayi Pranayama in Daily Life Due to the dominant presence of stress and pressure in our daily life, it has become quite hard to relax our bodies and provide our minds the right outlook. Ujjayi Pranayama is a practice that focuses to improve your mental health quality along with providing health benefits to your body such as better sleep, calm and composed mind, improved immune system, etc. Taking out even 10 minutes daily to practice Ujjayi Pranayama can help you significantly in terms of keeping your mind and body healthy. Ujjayi Pranayama Step by Step Guide: Sit on a hard surface and make sure to keep your spine erect. Take a few breaths to relax your body before entering into the Pranayama. Breathe in through your nostrils to fill the air in your lungs while applying a little pressure on your throat so that a sound is created. Your throat will be in a contracted position due to the application of pressure. Air does not have to touch the surface of your nostrils and therefore no pressure is applied to them. Hold your breath for a few seconds or depending on your capacity. Release it through your left nostril while pressing the right one with your fingers to close it. Repeat this for a few times. Constricting the Back of the Throat Ujjayi Pranayama requires constricting of the throat to let in the air into the lungs with a little pressure.  In this process, you have to gently constrict the aperture or opening of the throat to make a hissing sound.  No extreme pressure is needed while performing the pranayama. Relax your face, your throat, your jaw and start the practice with a few yogic breaths. Don’t get distracted and make sure to focus on your breath while performing the pranayama. It can be a little tricky for beginners and hence should be done under some form of guidance. Ujjayi Pranayama Benefits Practicing Ujjayi pranayama helps you sleep better as it helps to calm your body down. Help keep your mind cool and calm and hence provides clarity. This pranayama helps to practice a high level of concentration and increases your focus. It helps to provide relief in headaches and sinus infection. It is a very good practice for stammering children. Ujjayi pranayama when practiced regularly improves your mental and physical states of mind and body. It helps in improving your digestion. It is a very good practice to improve your immune system. Increases the energy levels of your body along with the stamina. Ujjayi Breathing Precautions Make sure to not put too much pressure on your throat while performing this pranayama. People with high blood pressure should perform it under professional guidance. Do this pranayama on empty stomach for best results. Ujjayi  Breath Contraindications It should not be practiced by people with heart disease as a little pressure is applied while performing this pranayama. Not be practiced when people are suffering from severe migraine problems. Conclusion In all Ujjayi Pranayama holds several health benefits to it whether it is mental or physical. Putting the right amount of pressure on the throat can look a little tricky but can be achieved by practicing the pranayama consistently. There are a lot of guides present out there in the form of videos or articles regarding the practice of Ujjayi Pranayama. It is an easy practice and can be performed in the comfort of your home.   Read More...  Read Less...