Overview & Traditional Lineage
Skull-Shining Breath (Kapalabhati) is a classical kriya rooted in Gheranda Samhita; one of the six shatkarma. Sharp exhalations from the belly with passive inhalations between. A cleansing practice rather than a breath practice, and classified that way in the texts.
Primary Goals: Energy, Digestion. Themes: Sluggishness, Morning, Clearing.
Full Guided Practice Script & Cue Timeline
| Timestamp | Spoken Cue / Instruction | Pause |
|---|---|---|
| 0:00 | Read the cautions. This one has real ones. | 18s |
| 0:23 | Sit upright with the belly free. Rest one hand below the navel. | 18s |
| 0:49 | The whole practice is this: a sharp pull inward of the belly, which pushes the air out through the nose. | 22s |
| 1:23 | The in-breath is not done. It happens by itself when the belly releases. | 22s |
| 1:53 | Try one. Sharp out. Let the in happen. | 20s |
| 2:19 | Now twenty, at about one per second. Only the out-breath is active. | 45s |
| 3:11 | Stop. Breathe normally and notice the effect. | 40s |
| 3:56 | A second round of twenty, if that was comfortable. Never push past comfortable. | 50s |
| 4:54 | Stop, and sit completely still. Do not go for a third round on the first day. | 60s |
| 6:04 | The clarity afterwards is what the texts are describing. Sit in it. | 45s |
Contraindications & Guidance
- Do not practise in pregnancy.
- Do not practise with high blood pressure, heart disease, epilepsy, glaucoma, hernia, ulcer, or during menstruation.
- Not within two hours of eating.
- Stop immediately at any dizziness.
- Stop at any pain in the abdomen.
