Kapalabhati (Skull-Shining Breath) is a traditional yogic practice of short, sharp exhales driven by the belly, with passive inhales. An energizing traditional practice. It activates your nervous system. Use it in the morning, not before sleep.
How is Kapalabhati done?
Kapalabhati is a traditional yogic practice of short, sharp exhales driven by the belly, with passive inhales. This page doesn’t teach it step by step: in Oxigen it runs only after a health check and a readiness check, starts with a shorter first run, and the safety banner stays on screen until the first breath.
Sit or lie down. Never in or near water, while driving, or standing.
Best on an empty stomach.
If you feel dizzy, faint or unwell, tap I feel unwell and breathe normally.
What does the research say?
An energizing traditional practice. It activates your nervous system. Use it in the morning, not before sleep.
Evidence grade C · Early research: Small, uncontrolled or non-randomized studies, or mixed results. Grades describe evidence for feeling calmer, more alert or more focused, never a claim about treating a condition.
Sources
- Raghuraj et al. 1998, Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology 42:467
What might you feel?
Heat, tingling, light-headedness. Stop if dizzy.
Who should take care with Kapalabhati?
Oxigen hides Kapalabhati for anyone whose health check includes pregnancy, a heart condition, high blood pressure that isn’t well controlled, epilepsy or seizures, asthma, COPD or another lung condition, panic attacks or panic disorder, recent surgery, a hernia or an eye condition such as glaucoma, fainting or getting dizzy easily or “Prefer not to say”. Intense breathing can cause fainting or worse for some people.
Oxigen is a wellness app, not a medical device. It does not diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any medical condition. If you have a health condition or are pregnant, talk to your doctor before starting, and keep following your care plan.
How Oxigen guides Kapalabhati
- Rhythm: 20.
- Session length: 1, 2 or 3 rounds.
- Included with Oxigen Premium.
- Needs the readiness check before every session until you’ve finished three.
- An orb, a rhythm ring, haptics and optional sound guide each breath, with “I feel unwell” always on screen.
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Updated November 8, 2026. Copy reviewed against Oxigen’s claims policy and technique reference.