Category

Seated

Level

intermediate

Hold

30 seconds–3 minutes

Type

Breathing exercise

Breath

Rapid, equal nasal inhales and exhales pumped from the navel

Breath of Fire

Agni Pran — "fire breath"

A rapid, rhythmic breath with equal, active inhales and exhales pumped from the navel — the signature breath of Kundalini yoga. It's related to Kapalabhati but continuous and balanced, and it deserves the same cautions.

Step by step

1. 1Sit tall in Easy Pose or on your heels, hands resting on your knees.
2. 2Breathe through your nose and begin pumping your navel: exhale as it snaps in, inhale as it releases out.
3. 3Keep inhale and exhale equal in length and strength — this is what distinguishes it from Kapalabhati.
4. 4Build to a steady rhythm of roughly two to three cycles per second.
5. 5Keep your face, shoulders, and chest relaxed; only the belly works.
6. 6Start with 30 seconds, then inhale deeply, hold briefly, and exhale slowly to finish.
7. 7Rest and breathe naturally before any further rounds.