Contrary to popular yogic belief and teaching, the level of oxygen in the bloodstream does not change based on our breathing techniques. The atmosphere is 21% oxygen and our hemoglobin works at tremendous efficiency to deliver oxygen to our muscles and organs. There is more than enough oxygen. Oxygen is not the issue.
What does change, according to many respiratory studies including ones by the US Navy, is the level of carbon dioxide in the lungs and blood. But here is the strange part: when we do rapid exhalations like in Kapalbhati, the decrease in carbon dioxide causes the blood vessels of the body and the brain to constrict, actually decreasing the amount of oxygen moving throughout the body. If we want to oxygenate the body and brain we should slow our respiration. This increases the ratio of carbon dioxide and dilates blood vessels, bringing more oxygen. Remember, our oxygen levels don't change regardless of our breathing.
This information makes me wonder if the practice of Kapalbhati after yoga postures and before rest isn't counterproductive. Shouldn't we slow the breath, dilate the blood vessels and increase oxygen flow to the body?
Information cited is taken from The Science of Yoga by William Broad.
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