According to “Hatha-Yoga Pradipika” there are 6 hygienic duties in Yoga practice. These six cleansing techniques are aimed to clean the body from impurities, phlegm, and excess fat, they clean the respiratory, digestive eliminatory and nervous system thus ensuring the full benefits of the breathing exercises. In other words, by performing this cleaning practices, we saving energy produced and accomulated from pranayam and asanas for further “development” and “awakening” rather , than cleaning and detoxifying the body. It’s necessary to note, that advanced kriyas must be performed with expert’s monitoring and previous consulting for contraindications.
1.Dhauti (washing)
a) Antar-dhauti (internal-washing)
· Vatsara (plavini) dhouti wind purification
· Varisara (shankhaprakshalana) dhouti water purification
· Vahnisara (agnisara ) dhouti fire purification
· Bahiskrita dhouti cleansing the intestines
b) Danta-dhauti
· Jihva (tongue)-sodhana
· Danta -moola (teeth)-dhouti
· Karna (ears)-dhouti
· Kapalrandhra (frontal sinuses)-dhouti
· Chakshu (eyes) dhouti
c) Hrid-dhauti ( heart area: chest and throat cleaning)
· danda dhouti cleansing with a stalk (plantain, turmeric or cane)
· vastra dhouti cleansing using stripe of cloth
· vaman dhouti vomiting cleansing procedures
d) Mola-sodhana
Cleansing the rectum with water, using finger of one hand or stalk.
2. Basti (colonic irrigation)
Kind of Yogic clyster’s procedure (though without outside pressure, that medicine clyster use) for cleaning colonic intestine.
a) djala (water)
b) sthala (dry)
3. Neti (nasal cleansing)
Practice for clearing the nostrils and head sinuses.
a) djala (water) neti
b) sutra (thread, catheter) neti
c) ghrita; dugdha (milk) neti
4. Trataka (cleansing vision)
In this practice an object is gazed at without blinking, until the eyes begin to water.
a) antar (internal)
b) bahir (external)
5. Nauli
The practice of contracting and isolating the rectus abdominis muscle.
a) Dakshina (right)
b) Vama (left)
c) Madhjama (middle)
6. Kapalbhati (cleansing breath)
Kapal – skull or forehead, bhati – light, luminous. Breathing technique , clearing the frontal air passages.
According “Gherand Samhita” there are 3 kinds of Kapalbhati
a) Vatkrama (breathing)
b) Vjutkrama (backwards) using water as in djala-neti, but suck it in through both nostrils and let it drain through the mouth.
c) Shitkrama (cold or passive) take water in the mouth and let it out through the nostrils.
1.Dhauti (washing)
a) Antar-dhauti (internal-washing)
· Vatsara (plavini) dhouti wind purification
· Varisara (shankhaprakshalana) dhouti water purification
· Vahnisara (agnisara ) dhouti fire purification
· Bahiskrita dhouti cleansing the intestines
b) Danta-dhauti
· Jihva (tongue)-sodhana
· Danta -moola (teeth)-dhouti
· Karna (ears)-dhouti
· Kapalrandhra (frontal sinuses)-dhouti
· Chakshu (eyes) dhouti
c) Hrid-dhauti ( heart area: chest and throat cleaning)
· danda dhouti cleansing with a stalk (plantain, turmeric or cane)
· vastra dhouti cleansing using stripe of cloth
· vaman dhouti vomiting cleansing procedures
d) Mola-sodhana
Cleansing the rectum with water, using finger of one hand or stalk.
2. Basti (colonic irrigation)
Kind of Yogic clyster’s procedure (though without outside pressure, that medicine clyster use) for cleaning colonic intestine.
a) djala (water)
b) sthala (dry)
3. Neti (nasal cleansing)
Practice for clearing the nostrils and head sinuses.
a) djala (water) neti
b) sutra (thread, catheter) neti
c) ghrita; dugdha (milk) neti
4. Trataka (cleansing vision)
In this practice an object is gazed at without blinking, until the eyes begin to water.
a) antar (internal)
b) bahir (external)
5. Nauli
The practice of contracting and isolating the rectus abdominis muscle.
a) Dakshina (right)
b) Vama (left)
c) Madhjama (middle)
6. Kapalbhati (cleansing breath)
Kapal – skull or forehead, bhati – light, luminous. Breathing technique , clearing the frontal air passages.
According “Gherand Samhita” there are 3 kinds of Kapalbhati
a) Vatkrama (breathing)
b) Vjutkrama (backwards) using water as in djala-neti, but suck it in through both nostrils and let it drain through the mouth.
c) Shitkrama (cold or passive) take water in the mouth and let it out through the nostrils.
