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Background: Yoga breathing has been shown to enhance neurocognitive function and positive emotions by increasing electrical power in several frequency bands and synchronizing interhemispheric brain waves. The current study examined the immediate impact of practicing Kapalabhati (KBH) on the electrical activity of the brain. Methods: Thirty-six individuals who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria and ranged in age from 18 to 25 were randomly assigned, 1:1, to the KBH (n = 18) and breath awareness (BAW) (n = 18) groups. Before data collection, both groups received their respective practices for 10 min each day for a total of 15 days. The brain’s electrical activities were assessed using 128-channel EEG recording. The electrodes were placed on their scalps according to the international 10-10 system, ensuring optimal coverage of different brain regions. The EEG signals were amplified, digitized, and stored for offline analysis. Results: The EEG data showed that the practice of KBH significantly increased alpha waves in the frontal and temporal regions. Moreover, gamma waves increased significantly in the frontal, temporal, and occipital regions after the practice of KBH when compared with BAW. Conclusion: The results suggest the involvement of frontal and temporal regions, which highlights the importance of KBH in enhancing higher-order cognitive processes. These results provide valuable insights and support for the use of KBH as a potential intervention for individuals seeking to enhance their cognitive abilities.

Background: Kapalbhati is a fast pace respiratory exercise or pranayam, which is supposed to be practiced by yogis to clean their brain. Pranayamas are well known to improve heart rate variability (HRV) ultimately leading to better autonomic functions. Other studies have observed the immediate effect of kapalbhati on various neurological (brain and spine) and autonomic functions, but their results are varied and inconclusive. Objective: The aim of this study is to find out the changes in HRV and brain waves during and after practice of kapalbhati as compared with the baseline values of different parameters. Methods: Various parameters were measured at baseline, during and after kapalbhati pranayam with the help of Dinamika HRV-Advanced HRV Test System, Moscow, Russia. Statistical analysis was accomplished employing repeated measures analysis of variance with Bonferroni post-hoc analysis and Holm's multiple comparisons using the Version 28.0.0.0 of the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) for Windows (190) SPSS Inc., Chicago. Results: We found that during and after kapalbhati, changes in HRV were significant in time and frequency domain showing parasympathetic withdrawal and insignificant changes in brain waves as compared with reference point values. Conclusion: Kapalbhati is initially energizing, cleansing, and heating. There occurs parasympathetic withdrawal and sympathetic activation during pranayama. There is an increase gamma wave activation post pranayama showing control of the default mode network.

Background: Kapalbhati is a fast pace respiratory exercise or pranayam, which is supposed to be practiced by yogis to clean their brain. Pranayamas are well known to improve heart rate variability (HRV) ultimately leading to better autonomic functions. Other studies have observed the immediate effect of kapalbhati on various neurological (brain and spine) and autonomic functions, but their results are varied and inconclusive. Objective: The aim of this study is to find out the changes in HRV and brain waves during and after practice of kapalbhati as compared with the baseline values of different parameters. Methods: Various parameters were measured at baseline, during and after kapalbhati pranayam with the help of Dinamika HRV-Advanced HRV Test System, Moscow, Russia. Statistical analysis was accomplished employing repeated measures analysis of variance with Bonferroni post-hoc analysis and Holm's multiple comparisons using the Version 28.0.0.0 of the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) for Windows (190) SPSS Inc., Chicago. Results: We found that during and after kapalbhati, changes in HRV were significant in time and frequency domain showing parasympathetic withdrawal and insignificant changes in brain waves as compared with reference point values. Conclusion: Kapalbhati is initially energizing, cleansing, and heating. There occurs parasympathetic withdrawal and sympathetic activation during pranayama. There is an increase gamma wave activation post pranayama showing control of the default mode network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Yoga breathing has been shown to enhance neurocognitive function and positive emotions by increasing electrical power in several frequency bands and synchronizing interhemispheric brain waves. The current study examined the immediate impact of practicing Kapalabhati (KBH) on the electrical activity of the brain., Methods: Thirty-six individuals who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria and ranged in age from 18 to 25 were randomly assigned, 1:1, to the KBH ( n = 18) and breath awareness (BAW) ( n = 18) groups. Before data collection, both groups received their respective practices for 10 min each day for a total of 15 days. The brain's electrical activities were assessed using 128-channel EEG recording. The electrodes were placed on their scalps according to the international 10-10 system, ensuring optimal coverage of different brain regions. The EEG signals were amplified, digitized, and stored for offline analysis., Results: The EEG data showed that the practice of KBH significantly increased alpha waves in the frontal and temporal regions. Moreover, gamma waves increased significantly in the frontal, temporal, and occipital regions after the practice of KBH when compared with BAW., Conclusion: The results suggest the involvement of frontal and temporal regions, which highlights the importance of KBH in enhancing higher-order cognitive processes. These results provide valuable insights and support for the use of KBH as a potential intervention for individuals seeking to enhance their cognitive abilities., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2024 International Journal of Yoga.)

Yoga methods including Pranayama are the best ways to prevent many diseases and their progression. Even though, Yoga is widely practiced, its effects on certain medical conditions have not been studied or reported. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of them. GERD is extremely common condition requiring frequent consumption of over-the-counter or prescribed proton pump inhibitors (PPI). In severe symptoms of GERD and in the presence of multiple etiologies, PPIs are insufficient to relieve the symptoms of gastric reflux. Regular and proper use of the Yoga along with PPI can control the severe symptoms of GERD and can avoid or delay the necessity of invasive procedures. This evidence-based case report focuses on the effects of Yoga on GERD. Our case report showed that regular practice of Kapalbhati and Agnisar kriya along with PPI, patients with hiatal hernia had improvement in severe symptoms of GERD, which were initially refractory to PPI alone.

The present study aimed at assessing the effect of Kapalbhati on body fat percentage and water content among University Yoginis. The subjects for the study were selected on the basis of random group design. Thirty (N=30) female students were selected as subject for the present study from Lakshmibai National University of Physical Education (Deemed University), Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh) INDIA. The entire subject ranged between the chronological age of 17 to 22 years. Experiment treatment was then assigned to group "A" while group "B" acts as control. Body composition analyzer was used to measure the Body Fat Percentage and Body Water content. The subjects underwent training for 12-week with the Kapalbhati. The difference in the mean of each group for selected variables was tested for the significance of difference by paired't' test. The level of significance was set at 0.05. The result has shown the significant effect in body fat percentage since cal. t(=3.742)> tab .t. 05(14) (=2.145).The treatment of twelve week Kapalbhati training programme also shown significant improvement in case of body water content, since cal. t (=6.722)> tab t.05 (14) (2.145). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yoga methods including Pranayama are the best ways to prevent many diseases and their progression. Even though, Yoga is widely practiced, its effects on certain medical conditions have not been studied or reported. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of them. GERD is extremely common condition requiring frequent consumption of over-the-counter or prescribed proton pump inhibitors (PPI). In severe symptoms of GERD and in the presence of multiple etiologies, PPIs are insufficient to relieve the symptoms of gastric reflux. Regular and proper use of the Yoga along with PPI can control the severe symptoms of GERD and can avoid or delay the necessity of invasive procedures. This evidence-based case report focuses on the effects of Yoga on GERD. Our case report showed that regular practice of Kapalbhati and Agnisar kriya along with PPI, patients with hiatal hernia had improvement in severe symptoms of GERD, which were initially refractory to PPI alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]