How to Do Cannon Breath for Kundalini Yoga

Sep 17, 2020 / Pranayama

Pranayama is breathwork in Kundalini Yoga. Through changing the way in which you breathe, you can activate a variety of physical and mental transformations. For that reason, learning about the art of pranayama is a part of your journey. When you first get started, you will see that there’s a wealth of different breathwork sets you can try.

One of the most important has to be the cannon breath for Kundalini Yoga. This pranayama is used toward the end of a variety of sessions. When you first start attending classes, you may find that the teacher ends the practice with this breath. The sooner that you learn how to do the cannon breath, the better it will be for your learning.

Naturally, there are many benefits to cannon breath. First of all, the pranayama helps to strengthen your parasympathetic nervous system. In simple terms that means that it helps your body function at the highest possible level. You will find that your digestive system also improves when you start to use the cannon breath in Kundalini Yoga practices.

Of course, it doesn’t end there. One of the main benefits of this breathwork is that it also detoxifies the liver. The liver is a vital organ that helps to cleanse your body. With that in mind, you need to make sure that you support it in any way possible. Using this Kundalini Yoga technology can help you in that area and means that you will be healthier.

Aside from all of the above, the cannon breath in Kundalini Yoga also has a wealth of mental benefits. When you do it, you will find that it helps you to relax and unwind. That is why it’s used in a variety of meditation practices. Similarly, the breathwork encourages feelings of mindfulness, which will help you to release stress and tension.

Benefits of This Pranayama

Strengthens parasympathetic nervous system
Helps to support positive digestion
Detoxifies the liver
Aids meditation practice
Helps improve relaxation
Encourages feelings of mindfulness

How to do This Pranayama

“Any breath you take automatically, you waste your prana. Every breath you take consciously, you enhance your prana, and that enhances your vitality.”
– Yogi Bhajan

Much of the time, Yogi Bhajan would use the cannon breath exhale for Kundalini Yoga to end exercises. Getting to grips with this type of breathwork will help you along your journey. Here’s what you need to know to get started with this pranayama.

Mouth position:

To do the cannon breath, make sure your mouth forms an ‘O’ position. Avoid puckering your mouth, but also make sure that the lips are firm in place.

Breath:

This is an exhale technique. Powerfully exhale from the navel point through the mouth only. Allow the pressure of the breath to be in the cheeks and run over the tongue. Note: There should not be any bulging of the cheeks throughout.

Tip: Remember cannon breath is the same as breath of fire, only it’s done through the mouth. When you have learned one, the other should be straightforward.