Breath of Fire that we have been practicing during our meditation challenge is a Kundalini Breath of Fire, and it is mildly different than Kapalabhati, where the inhale is passive.

Kundalini breath of fire is a powerful breathing technique used to increase energy, as well as burn old karmas and toxins in our system. It also helps with deep breathing and increasing ones immunity.

Here is how to do it:

1) Sit in a comfortable position, spine straight (this allows prana to come in freely)

2) Close your eyes and concentrate at the brow point, your third eye.

3) Begin Inhaling and Exhaling powerfully and rapidly through the noise, and the breath is coming only from the navel.

• On the Inhale, the belly is pushed out

• on the Exhale, the belly is pulled back in

• In the beginning of this practice you can place your hand on your belly to feel the movement of the belly and navel.

4) The breath is rapid and deep, this is not shallow breathing.

5) To finish take a deep inhale in and an exhale out.

Start with 1 minute and build up to 7 minutes.

This is a powerful breath, but hyperventilation is never the goal. If you begin to feel lightheaded, slow down the pace of your breath, reset your rhythm, and begin again. You can pause and take your time.

It is best to start slow and once comfortable with the breath, then speed up your Breath of Fire.

The chest stays relaxed and slightly lifted throughout the breathing cycle.

Please remember there should be no rigidity of hands, feet, face, or abdomen. Your body should be relaxed, as your belly moved in and out. The chest is also relaxed and not moving.

Common Mistakes:

• Exaggerated Belly Pump: even though the Breath of Fire does work the navel, the movement is truly powered by the solar plexus, which is about 3 fingers ABOVE the belly button.

• Imbalanced Inhale + Exhale: The inhale and exhale should match. Many people focus too much on the inhale, which can cause you to feel a bit lightheaded. The trick is to focus on the exhale, and let the inhale happen on its own, even though it is with the same pace and intensity.

Do not do Breath of Fire if:

• Pregnant

• First three days of your menstrual cycle.