Kapalabhati

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

Hi Mukunda,

Am still trying to understand this kappalabhati.
I looked in my Gurudev’s book, Integral Yoga Hatha and G Kraftsow’s Yoga for Transformation to see if I could understand you more by educating myself more…

Mukunda said: Kapalabhati as I teach it is a Kriya - for kapha. As taught at IY it is more pitta stimulating not a kriya. So must be
distinguished which method is being used.

Mukunda said: Heat should not go to head. Mostly it is intention and pacing that prevents this.

In both Gurudev’s book & G Kraftsow they both say Kapalabhati is a kriya,
yet describe it in their pranayama sections. [Gurudev says: Kapalabhati is
so called because it cleanses the nadis in the skull.] I would think we
would WANT to clean our skull nadis… Are we indirectly doing that when we do this method your way - (slowly - 20 exhalations in 20 seconds, intentionally sending the energy to the chest/heart area, home of kapha). Or do we not clean the skull nadis because we haven’t heated them up enough. (For me i can’t take the heat in the head - aggravates my pitta).

[Gurudev: Although Kapalabhati is considered a kriya or cleansing practice, it is part of the pranayama section as it is helpful in learning bastrika.]
[Gary sez: Kapalabhati - perhaps more correctly called a cleansing exercise (kriya)- involves rapid breathing with no control valve and, in this sense, is not classically considered a pranayama.]

So - what YOU are saying - that the way you teach it is as a kriya (or
cleansing practice) for kapha. How does it ‘clean’ kapha - by ‘stabilizing’ it by sending it home (to the chest NOT the head) with our intentions? And, for me, you said you liked this method better than, say nadi suddhi or other cooling, calming techniques? Why? Heat should never go to the head or just not for those with pitta aggravation - which is alot of us?

What I get from Gary is that “uddiyana bandha’s esoteric purpose is to hold the impurities up closer to the fire- in the navel- so they can be reduced to ashes.” Since what I feel of Kapalabhati is that it is a kind of dynamic uddiyana - that we are doing some cleansing there in the fire center; but by slowing it down (20 exhales in 20 seconds) we keep from overheating and by intentionally sending it to the chest - it doesn’t go to the head and get the head overheated. I know this is repetitious - somewhat - but i want to get/be as clear as possible with this means of communication. Am I on the right track?

So - should we even call the practice you gave me Kapalabhati, also called skull shining - which indicates sweating, therefore heat?? Should it be “moderately paced dynamic diaphragmatic breath to pacify kapha and vata”. HA! HA! MPDDBPKV for short! Ha ha! Gary’s & Gurudev’s methods differ, though similar - in the ball park. And they both call it Kapalabhati.

So, can we generalize to say… Would folks with pitta imbalances therefore
best not be further aggravating their pitta by doing ANY heating practices -
especially kapalabhati or bhastrika or… As gary sez, exhalation tends to have a more calming effect. Emphasize this in a satvic way.

So, a more slow simmering type of cleansing (tapas/kriya) versus a rolling
boil? Kinda like cooking or making candy… Cooling/ heating, calming /
stimulating are main methods - right time and place. Fine tuning in to the goal; cause n effect.

Thanks for handling this. Ommmmluv dhiv

#2

First of all let me remind you i have said many times do not compare teachings of different schools. Their intentions are different and techniques even of same name are not for same purpose. You are comparing 3 teachers methods this ultimately serves no purpose but confusion. I want you to stop persisting in comparing. It is for this purpose that i am addressing this for the reader. You have been told this many times and still you persist down the path i warn you not to go. It shows your obstinancy and ignorance. to overcome ignorance follow only one teacher, one guru, one method. Yoga is not the same to all yoginis.

     This technique is a great example of how knowing Ayurveda can make a yogic process more affective.  The intention of kapalabhati (as indeed all the other 5 shatkarmas) from Hatha Yoga Pradipika and earlier texts such as the Shatkarmas Sangraha is to purify the kapha dosha.  In general this means to remove excess mucous from the head.  We must understand that this is a physical technique for the physical body.  Not intended to work on the subtle bodies.  The context of this method from here is as preparatory exercises for asana.  After 3 weeks of shatkarmas then asana could be done more safely and affectively.

    From a yogic point of view your Gurudev and Gary are quite accurate in their presentation of kapalabhati for purifying the nadis but confusion arises since they have not said which kosha the nadis are on that this is addressing.  Nadis can be taken as nerves in kosha one or nadis of kosha two.  In the first kosha purification of nerves will result in clearer sinuses, lessening of build up of cranial pressures, etc.  This is a desirabel affect as also is the technique for clearer subtle nadis.  But teachers must be clear that there may be a difference according to which kosha you are teaching for and what the student may experience.

  For second koshas the purification is to proceed from subtler nadis into the major 10 nadies; until it extends to clearing ida and pingala (subtle channels within the nostrils - not the nostrils); and ultimately clearing sushumna nadi which ends in the brahmarandra (door to God, center of sahasrar).  These experiences will produce sensory awareness beyond the gross 5 senses - subtle sound arising from within; subtle taste from within - called kechari or amrita - this is detailed in Yoga Sutras III, 37.

    Since your Gurudev and Gary Kraftsow do not mention Ayurveda principles one must assume they are not using this consideration in evaluating affectiveness of the technique.  Therefore do not compare this discussion with theirs in that light.  

    From Ayurveda point of view kapha should be taken home and purified in its home for best results.  The home of kapha is chest not head.  That means no heat (pitta symptom) in head, the movement of belly for this kriya only keep heat in belly and move mucous and other forms of congestion up to the head.  In general when heat predominates in any other place but belly there is pitta displacement and illness will follow; regardless of your prakriti.  Pitta predominant people should do mild pitta practice and concentrate on bringing it home to belly; giving feelings of discernment and vitality.  In the same way vata predominant doing practices that generate feeling of Yoni Mudra energy in low abdomen and pelvis; giving feelings of serenity and clarity.  Kapha predominant doing mild kapha practices that cleanse head and chest region and give feelings of love, ananda.


    Feeling kapalabhati as a dynamic uddiyana is incorrect practice.    Uddiyana means "flying up"  the energy is moving upward, thus an increase in udana prana.  Uddiyana Bandha is not a cleanse of the fire center.  Its purpose is after the kriyas are done and energy is flowing in the central nadi then it takes that 2nd kosha energy up to Shiva in sahasrar.  Bandhas are for higher koshas.  When they are done properly they result in prana becoming so refined that it moves to kosha four.

  Agnisar dhouti is for cleanse of pitta; it literally means "cleansing the digestive fire".  One must have a clear intention with pranayama or the effect is haywire.  

    In general all these techniques are best learned from one teacher and one lineage.  Do not wander make a comittment and go deeply.  namaste mukunda
#3

Sri Mukunda,

That was a very helpful discussion, thankyou. A huge area worthy of a workshop I?d like to take with you. I believe you recommended a correspondence course on Ayurveda, but I can?t find it in my notes.

I do understand the admonition to stick to one teacher ? and actually wondered about studying with you on that account. With due respect and love, Mukunda, you are my teacher, and I?m sure I have my guru?s blessings to study with you. I am sooo very glad I chose to do that. And you have encouraged us, as your students, to experience other yoga styles so as to understand better what clients may present to us. And you?ve recommended checking out Gary?s books and many others.

There have been different interpretations within Integral Yoga as to how to do/teach kappalabhati. In addition to wanting to expand my own personal understanding, I wanted to be more clear before recommending your technique in my specialty paper. Which is what prompted the question. I am seeing more clearly how researching this can be tricky ? as these practices are very powerful, indeed. However, I don?t think of myself as straying very far. There?s so much to learn from my guru and you for me to have much time left over to explore others. Do you have me mixed up with someone else? Or is it my vata pitta imbalances that you are reacting to? Or? With great respect and love. Namaste ommmmdhivya

#4

I do not offer an Ayurveda course. I am writing a book on it that will be used as a manual for training personally with me - it will not be published. A deeper look at this subject - Ayurvedic Yoga Therapy - will be published hopefully within a year.
Pitta imbalances make one rush to conclusions, a problem. but a deeper problem is with vata imbalances which makes one visit territory that does not belong to your destiny. Vata imbalance is going lightly into a deep subject and spreading oneself too thin. Best is to take the long term approach and follow only ones guru and no other. Best wishes. namaste