Guest guest Posted April 28, 2007 Report Share Posted April 28, 2007 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 29, 2007 Report Share Posted April 29, 2007 ---- 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 29, 2007 Report Share Posted April 29, 2007 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 29, 2007 Report Share Posted April 29, 2007 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 29, 2007 Report Share Posted April 29, 2007 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 > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 30, 2007 Report Share Posted April 30, 2007 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 > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 30, 2007 Report Share Posted April 30, 2007 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 30, 2007 Report Share Posted April 30, 2007 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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