The specific technique: in padmāsana (lotus posture), vigorous complete exhalations (samuddharet — literally “to raise upward,” here “to expel”). The stable posture allows attention to focus on the breath movement.

Skull cleansing (kapāla-śuddhi) refers to the clarification of the paranasal sinuses and the mind. Vāta and kapha — the doṣas of air and mucus — are balanced through this vigorous practice.

Kapālabhāti is an excellent preparation for deeper prāṇāyāma, cleaning the respiratory channels and energizing the system.