Breath of Fire Breathwork Exercise in Yoga

The breath of fire breathwork exercise, also known as the Kapalabhati is the most powerful breath control in yoga. There are many benefits, both physically and emotionally, to this breathing exercise. Some of these benefits include fighting anxiety, fears and nervousness, calming the nerves to enable the person to regain control of stressful situations, helping the promotion of good and balanced breathing and gets rid of toxins in the lungs and the mucus linings. If you want to start yoga to lose weight and to meditate, this breathwork exercise is perfect for a start. Here is how to do this yoga exercise.

• Prop yourself on the yoga mat. Lay down your yoga mat in a silent spot in your house where you can exercise uninterrupted. Prop yourself on a sitting position with your legs crossed over each other. Sit with your back straight. This breathing exercise requires you to have a good sitting posture so the air goes in and out of your system freely.
  
• Close your eyes and focus. As you are seated, take a few moments to calm yourself and rid your mind of any negative thoughts. Focus on the exercise ahead and condition your mind and body to work in sync. You can play soothing music if it helps you concentrate. This lets you do the breath of fire breathwork exercise without any interruptions.
  
• Place your hand on your stomach. When you are ready to do the breath of fire exercise, place your right hand on your tummy. This will allow you to feel your stomach as you inhale and exhale. You can also build a rhythm in your breathing and maintain it throughout.
  
• Inhale, exhale. Take a deep breath and push outward as you inhale. Normally, pushing your stomach outward is when you exhale, but this exercise requires you to do so when you inhale. This may take a few tries to do it right. Exhale through your nose. Inhale again, and as you exhale, pull the spot above your navel inwards. It should feel like your stomach is caving in. When you exhale the air should produce a sniffing sound. Inhale again with a sniffing sound this time and exhale.
  
• Do repetitions. Repeat the exercise until you master the technique of inhaling with your stomach pushing outward and exhaling with it pulling inward. Do this exercise at least fifteen times at a time.
  

If you are too busy with work and house chores and do not have enough time to do yoga, you can spare a few minutes and do this breathwork exercise instead. Even if you do not do a full yoga exercise, performing only this breathwork exercise and other yoga poses for a few minutes at a time should be enough. On weekends when you have time to spare, make sure to do yoga and all its poses and breathing exercises for full body workout. During the weekdays after al chores are finished, a few poses and breathing exercises prepare for the weekend ahead for a full yoga exercise.