Detoxify Your Body Inside and Out The Yoga Way

Cleansing Yoga Practices

The main ideology behind yoga is bringing about a balance of mind, body and soul in order to experience the ultimate awareness of the divine or as it’s sometimes known, to attain enlightenment. To achieve this one needs to detoxify the mind of material and worldly goods, cleanse and strengthen the body and attain a higher level of self consciousness that allows one to surrender themselves completely in order to be brought closer to God.

There are several yoga cleansing practices and rituals that clean out different parts of your body including what cannot be seen on the outside. While in true Yoga practice this is just a step to a larger more spiritual aspect, these yoga cleaning techniques have immense health and medical benefits. that include-

• improvement of immunity by elimination of toxins.
• flushes out the parts of the body that would otherwise not be washed (like the digestive system, the sinus and the airways)
• the massaging effect brought to some areas through cleansing postures, improves blood circulation for proper assimilation of nutrients throughout the body and stimulates the effective working of various Organs.

The Different Types of Yoga Cleansing

Hatha Yoga Cleansing
In Hatha Yoga cleansing system called Shatkarmas involves 6 cleansing practices or techniques targeted to specific parts of the body. These detoxification practices from Hatha yoga are widely popular and followed by millions to . They are-

1. Neti (Nasal Cleasing): This is the process of purifying the breathing path from the nostrils to the throat. Jala Neti (nasal irrigation) is the most popular of these cleaning practices and is a simple yet powerful technique which works wonders for chronic sinusitis, allergies and in several cases Asthma. Neti is divided into Jala Neti (using water), Dugdha Neti (using milk), Ghrita Neti (using ghee), Swamootra Neti (using ones own urine), and Sutra Neti (using a thread). (Read: The Wonders Of Jala Neti: A Yoga Nasal Irrigation Technique)
2. Nauli (abdominal cleansing): In Nauli, cleansing is focused on the abdominal region and uses massaging techniques and churning. The abdominal purification process in Nauli invovles three stages- Madhyama Nauli (central contraction), Vama Nauli (left contraction), Dakshina Nauli (right contraction), and rotational Nauli.
3. Dhouti/Dhauti:These are cleansing techniques for different parts of the body, but do not all involve literal washing. However, they are aimed at detoxifying your body and stimulating the digestive system. Dhauti consists of Chaksua Dhauti (eye cleansing), Karna Dhauti (ear cleansing), Jihwa Dhauti (tongue cleansing), Kapal Randhra Dhauti (scalp cleansing), Danda Dhauti (cleaning the esophagus), Vatsara Dhauti (stomach cleansing with air, also called Bhujangini Mudra), Vaman Dhauti includes Kunjal Kriya (stomach cleansing with water) and Vyaghra Kriya (emptying the stomach of excess food), Vastra Dhauti (stomach cleansing with cloth), Vahnisar Dhauti (same Agnisar Kriya or stomach massage), Varisara Dhauti also called Laghoo and Poorna Shankaprakshalana (washing from mouth to anus with water), Moola Shodhanam (cleaning the anus). Dhoutis are a type of shuddhikriya*.
4. Bhasti (colon cleansing): Used in treating digestive disorders and bowel problems, Basti involves the introduction of liquids such as water, oils, herbal concoctions and milk or air through the anus or vaginal orifice in order to clean the lower part of the body. It is not an easy technique and should only be administered by a trained practitioner.
5. Kapalbhati: Aimed at purifying and vitalizing the frontal lobe, kapalbhati is either done by air (Pranayama Kapalbhati) or water (Jala Neti stages 2 & 3). Kapalbhati, with air, cleanses the windpipe and in the process, the frontal lobes of the brain are influenced in a good manner. It is also a powerful method of waking up the mind.
6. Trataka: Trataka sharpens the psychic and optic ability by visualization on a particular object or thought. It is the steppingstone between physically oriented practices and mental practices, which leads to a higher state of awareness.

Shuddhikriyas and other yoga cleansing processes
Kunjal Kriya (stomach cleansing)- This method known as back-flushing, cleanses the upper digestive and the respiratory systems by eliminating any toxins on the mucus lining of your abdominal system.

Shankhaprakshalana (intestinal cleansing)- This is the practice of cleaning the whole digestive tract. Poorna (Full) shankhaprakshalana is a hatha yoga practice that involves drinking salted water and performing a series of asanas. Laghoo (short) shankhaprakshalana is a shatkarma technique, which involves drinking water and expelling it through the stool to clean the intestines.

Nasagra Drishti (mind purification)- Nasagra Drishti is a process of purifying the mind. Sitting cross-legged or in the Padmasan position, one fixes the gaze on the tip of the nose.

*Suddhikriyas- Shuddhikriyas are a group of different cleansing techniques, not meant to be practiced daily. They are used when cleansing is needed. Agnisardhouti, vamandhouti, kapalbhati, jalaneti and nasagra drishti are all types of shuddhikriyas.

More in… Yoga Cleansing and Purification Techniques Explained

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Yoga Cleansing and Purification Techniques Explained

In our previous post we saw the The Different Types of Yoga Cleansing Practices and what part of the body they are aimed at. Here’s a closer look at some of those  yoga cleansing techniques and how they are performed. However, this is a mere guide for better understanding of the body cleansing techniques and should only be attempted under the physical instruction and guidance from a yoga professional as if performed incorrectly can cause serious damage to your internal organs and systems.

Vamana Dhouti or Kunjal Kriya (Stomach Cleansing)
In this cleansing practice the stomach is flushed by drinking several glasses of saline water on an empty stomach, the first thing in the morning. You then consciously induce a vomiting reflex to regurgitate the water ingested. The fore or index finger, middle finger and the small finger of the right hand is used by inserting it in your mouth and pressing a little at the end of the tongue to gag.

As revolting as this method sounds, it’s not as bad or unpleasant, unlike actually throwing up food or something not agreeable to the stomach. The water usually comes out clear in gushes removing any remnant food and also helps replace the mucus lining. In short by performing this cleansing ritual the stomach and the esophagus are washed clean of any impurities from the inside.

Shankaprakshala (Intestinal Cleansing)
There are two types to this hatha yoga cleansing practice -Poorna shankhaprakshalana (full version) and Laghoo Shankhaprakshalana (short version). In the short version, one starts by gulping down 2 glasses of warm salty water (some add lime juice to the solution) followed by the performance of 6 yoga specific poses which are repeated 6 times each while drinking more of the saline solution. Usually, by the time 6 glasses have been drunk a strong bowel movement should be felt (if not the process is continued). The water drunk along with the exercises is said to wash put all matter from the stomach and small intestines. You’re not supposed to eat anything for at least half and hour after the cleansing, other than that the short version has no specific dietary restrictions and is not as thorough as the full version.

In Poorna shankhaprakshalana, one keeps drinking and exercising, drinking and exercising the same set of 6 asanas until you pass out water as clear as when you drank it. While it differs from person to person, it’s a long process involving anywhere between 20-50 glasses of the salt water solution and must be performed under strict guidance from and experienced yogi. Poorna Shankaprakshalana is an extensive and detailed practice which disagreeable consequences if not performed correctly. However, under the proper guidance this technique not only cleanses the gastro-intestinal tract but purifies the whole body as a strict diet and restricted activity and rest is followed according to guidelines, in order to restore the intestinal activity gradually. If the correct diet and rules are followed, the full effect of shankhaprakshalana is then felt during a two week period.

After completing the flushing of the intestines in both versions, kunjal kriya and neti kriya are usually performed.

Kapālabhāti  (Cleansing Breath)
It involves cleaning the wind pipe and is also meant to have a good effect on the frontal lobe of the brain. Kapalbhati is also known as the cleansing breath and helps clear blocked nasal passages well. The performance of kapalbhati by air emphasis on exhalation while leaving inhalation up to the natural reflex. It uses only abdominal breathing, that is breathing into the diaphragm. (*This exercises should be approached with caution for people with Blood Pressure as if it is done incorrectly one may feel lightheaded)

• Sitting upright in Vajrasana, place hands on your thighs.
• Gently exhale all of the air from the lungs then take a regular inhalation.
• Exhale through the nose, mouth closed with force rapidly in a short burst (like a sneeze) so your stomach squeezes in.
• Repeat twenty times, keeping a steady rhythm paying attention and emphasizing on the exhalation each time. Let the inhalation happen automatically. You should use your stomach muscles to exhale completely.
• Perform 8 to 12 Kapalabhati inhalations and exhalations for starters. This is one round. Slowly build up the Kapalabhati breaths taken in each round with practice to 30 times or 1 minute and then to 5 mins minutes.
• Repeat for 3 rounds.

Jala Neti or Jalneti (Nasal irrigation)
Jala Neti is the most popular of the cleaning practices and is a simple yet powerful technique which works wonders to purify and clear the breathing path from the nostrils to the throat as well as sinuses. For more details and the method to perform Jalneti (which is simple can can be tried even at home), read- The Wonders Of Jala Neti: A Yoga Nasal Irrigation Technique

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*Photo Credits: photo by prolix6x on flickr