Kapalbhati is a pranayama technique, which invigorates the entire brain and awakens the dormant centres, which are responsible for subtle perception. In English it is called the ‘frontal brain cleansing’ technique. It is a similar practice to bhastrika pranayama except that exhalation is emphasized and inhalation is the result of forcing the air out. In normal breathing, inhalation is active and exhalation is passive. This practice reverses that process so that exhalation becomes active and inhalation passive.

In Kapalbhati a greater number of respirations can be taken than in bhastrika pranayama because hyperventilation does not occur. It can be increased to two hundred breaths with months of practice, unless advised otherwise by your guru; Kapalbhati should be done after asana or neti, but before concentration or meditation.

If you experience dizziness while practising, it means you are breathing too forcefully. If this is the case, stop the practice and sit quietly for a few moments. When you begin to practise again, do it with more awareness, and with less force.