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

This article is brought to you by YogacaraShop.com – your source for special Yoga Apparel, yoga inspired clothing, comfort clothing clothing designed according to the Colors of the Chakras and the best trendy, high quality and comfortable  Fitness Apparel do visit YogacaraShop.com

*Photo Credits: photos by Kukhahn Yoga, danmachold ,yogadad on flickr