Is kapalabhati the same as breath of fire?

[Guest guest]

Sat Nam. In this month's Yoga Journal they printed a correction

regarding an earlier article where they stated that kapalabhati and

breath of fire were the same breath. They say in the correction that

they are different techniques. According to many web sources, they are

the same. I am particularly interested because there is research

published on kapalabhati breath and I am wondering if it is the same

as our widely practiced breath of fire or slightly different. Thanks

for any insight you might have on this question.

Sincerely,

Guru Parkash Kaur

[Guest guest]

---- Original Message ----

" gparkash1 " <staplesj

<Kundalini-Yoga >

Saturday, April 28, 2007 5:59 PM

Is kapalabhati the same as breath of fire?

 

> Sat Nam. In this month's Yoga Journal they printed a correction

> regarding an earlier article where they stated that kapalabhati and

> breath of fire were the same breath. They say in the correction that

> they are different techniques. According to many web sources, they are

> the same. I am particularly interested because there is research

> published on kapalabhati breath and I am wondering if it is the same

> as our widely practiced breath of fire or slightly different. Thanks

> for any insight you might have on this question.

> Sincerely,

> Guru Parkash Kaur

 

Sat Nam!

 

For what I know just in the Kundalini Yoga of Yogi Bhajan there is the

technique of breath of fire.

 

You can find the Kapalabhati in the Tantra Shastra (Gherenada Samhita and

Hatha Yoga Pradipika) as one of the Shatkarman (or purification techniques).

 

A bit close to breath of fire (but not the same!) can be bastrika, another

kind of pranayama (Gheranda Samhita and Hata Yoga Pradipika clearly say that

the element giving the rythm is the exhale - as in breath of fire).

 

Fateh Dharma!

 

Sujan Singh

http://www.yogajap.com

[Guest guest]

Sat Nam!

From my studies and practice, kapalabhati is dfferent

from BoF in that the exhale is overemphasized, so that

you are releasing more breath than you are taking in.

BoF the inhale and exhale are equal in length and

depth. Kapalabhati pranayam is used to detox the body

and breath. BoF does this but also heats up the whole

system amongst other benefits.

Hope this helps!

Michelle

[Guest guest]

sat nam yogis and yoginis

 

kapalabhati and breath of fire are different

techniques, as YJ said.

 

One difference is intent, the other is in practice

itself.

 

First lets address the practice. I am pretty sure

they get mixed up because of the emphasis on the navel

pump. But during kapalabhati, since its intent is to

cleanse the body, the emphasis on the exhale creates a

passive inhale. BOF is a balanced inhale-exhale.

 

Now to the intent. Both practices are cleansing in a

sense, but an extended kapalabhati practice actually

releases toxins: it will leave a bitter taste in the

mouth and can even leave the beginning practitioner

slightly nauseated. BOF, when done right, may make

the practitioner light-headed, but this is due to the

profound increase in brain- and blood-oxygen levels.

The balanced breath, along with the heat produced at

the navel, have a centering effect.

 

Both are wonderful practices, but my feeling is, since

I have never seen kapalbhati prescribed by Yogi Bhajan

in the context of the kriyas, that kapalabhati should

be practiced by itself and not in conjunction with any

postures.

 

hope this helps!

 

wahe guru ji ka khalsa

wahe guru ji ki fateh

dev atma singh

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Sat Nam,

I was in a KY workshop and asked that same question. The KY teacher

said to me that kapalabhati breathing is forceful exhales with

shallow inhales, usually done in rounds. Whereas BOF is an equal

inhale and exhale breath (thru the nose) that can be as gentle and

light as sniffing. You can do BOF for 31 minutes, if you had to. I

think if you did kapalabhati breath for that long, you might pass

out.

 

When I read the article in Yoga Journal, I e-mailed them what I was

told concerning the difference in breaths.

 

I'm sure that one of the KY teachers on this site will be able to

explain it better and correct any misconceptions in my understanding

or anyone elses understanding of breath of fire.

 

Blessings

Tej

 

 

 

 

In Kundalini-Yoga , " Centro Yoga ''Jap'' " <noi

wrote:

>

> ---- Original Message ----

> " gparkash1 " <staplesj

> <Kundalini-Yoga >

> Saturday, April 28, 2007 5:59 PM

> Is kapalabhati the same as breath of

fire?

>

> > Sat Nam. In this month's Yoga Journal they printed a correction

> > regarding an earlier article where they stated that kapalabhati

and

> > breath of fire were the same breath. They say in the correction

that

> > they are different techniques. According to many web sources,

they are

> > the same. I am particularly interested because there is research

> > published on kapalabhati breath and I am wondering if it is the

same

> > as our widely practiced breath of fire or slightly different.

Thanks

> > for any insight you might have on this question.

> > Sincerely,

> > Guru Parkash Kaur

>

> Sat Nam!

>

> For what I know just in the Kundalini Yoga of Yogi Bhajan there is

the

> technique of breath of fire.

>

> You can find the Kapalabhati in the Tantra Shastra (Gherenada

Samhita and

> Hatha Yoga Pradipika) as one of the Shatkarman (or purification

techniques).

>

> A bit close to breath of fire (but not the same!) can be bastrika,

another

> kind of pranayama (Gheranda Samhita and Hata Yoga Pradipika

clearly say that

> the element giving the rythm is the exhale - as in breath of fire).

>

> Fateh Dharma!

>

> Sujan Singh

> http://www.yogajap.com

>

[Guest guest]

Sat Nam, Guru Parkash Kaur,

 

Kapalabhati breath, as I was taught it, is not the same as breath of

fire. In kapalabhati the upper lip is pulled down over the upper

teeth and held there throughout, to keep the nasal passages open.

The exhalation is a bit quicker and more vigorous than the

inhalation, so the two parts of the breath are not equal in length.

(I was taught that the inhalation is " slow & vigorous " while the

exhalation is " faster & more vigorous " ). There is also a split-

second pause after each exhalation, which in my experience is what

absolutely differentiates it from breath of fire.

 

Hope this helps!

 

Nirvair Kaur

 

Kundalini-Yoga , " Centro Yoga ''Jap'' "

<noi wrote:

>

> ---- Original Message ----

> " gparkash1 " <staplesj

> <Kundalini-Yoga >

> Saturday, April 28, 2007 5:59 PM

> Is kapalabhati the same as breath of

fire?

>

> > Sat Nam. In this month's Yoga Journal they printed a correction

> > regarding an earlier article where they stated that kapalabhati

and

> > breath of fire were the same breath. They say in the correction

that

> > they are different techniques. According to many web sources,

they are

> > the same. I am particularly interested because there is research

> > published on kapalabhati breath and I am wondering if it is the

same

> > as our widely practiced breath of fire or slightly different.

Thanks

> > for any insight you might have on this question.

> > Sincerely,

> > Guru Parkash Kaur

>

>

[Guest guest]

The pulsing is different - kapalabhati works with only pulsing the

abdomen on the exhale and then releasing the belly muscles to " suck "

air in on the inhale there is no active inhale. Breath of fire - work

with even pulsing of the abdomen even in (inhale) and even out (exhale)

- it is much faster pace then kapalabhati.

 

Sat Nam

 

Sat Narayan

[Guest guest]

Breath of Fire

http://www.kundalini-matashakti.com/worddocuments/Pieters_Articles/radiant/Breath%20of%20Fire.pdf

 

Basic Kundalini Yoga Breathing

http://www.kundalini-matashakti.com/worddocuments/Pieters_Articles/radiant/BASIC%20KUNDALINI%20YOGA%20BREATHING.pdf