Shatkarmas- the yoga cleansing processes of the body are six in
number. According to Gherand Samhita , each of the practices has
several further varieties.
The six practices are:
1. |
DHAUTI- It is an important
yogic system of auto cleaning. It has 4 types |
a. |
Antar ( internal )Dhauti
-This further divided into - |
|
- Vatsara
Dhauti (Expelling air through anus)
- Varisara Dhauti
(Evacuating a large quantity of water
through the bowels)
- Vahnisara Dhauti (rapid
expanse/contraction of the abdomen
- Bahiskrita Dhauti (washing the rectum in the hands)
|
b. |
Hrida(cardiac) Dhauti
- It has 3 kinds of practices - |
|
- Danda Dhauti (Inserting
soft banana stem in the stomach)
- Vastra Dhauti (Swallowing
a long thin strip of cloth)
-
Vaman Dhauti (Regurgirating
the contents of the stomach
|
|
2. |
BASTI- This yoga practice of
colon cleansing has 2 parts |
|
|
|
-
Jala
(water) Basti (Water is sucked in the large
intestine through the anus and expelled)
-
Sthal (Dry)
basti (Air is sucked in this case)
|
|
3. |
NETI - this
yogic nasal irrigation technique is of 4 types |
|
|
|
-
Jala
(water) Neti (passing warm saline water through
the nose)
-
Sutra
(thread) Neti (passing a soft thread through the
nose)
-
Ghrita
(ghee) Neti (passing clarified butter through
the nose)
-
Dugdha
(milk) Neti (passing of milk through the nose
|
|
4. |
TRATAK- A yoga exercise for
the eyes, it involves steady and continuous gazing at a
point of concentration. It is further subdivided into: |
|
|
|
-
Antar
(internal) Trataka, and
-
Bahir
(external ) Tratak
|
|
5. |
NAULI - a yoga abdominal
cleansing technique which serves to massage the internal
organs of the body. In this the abdominal muscles are
isolated and churned. It has 3 parts |
|
|
-
Dakshin
Nauli (when muscles are isolated to the right)
-
Vama Nauli
(left)
-
Madhyama
Nauli (middle)
|
|
6. |
KAPALBHATI - this mind
detoxification technique of yoga has 3 components
Vatkrama Kapalbhati (similar to bhastrika pranayama) |
|
|
-
Vyutkrama
Kapalbhati (sucking water in through the nose
and expelling it through the mouth)
-
Sheetkrama
Kapalbhati
|
|
These yoga cleansing practices should be
learnt under the guidance of an experienced master. He shall be
able to guide you which technique is best suited to your body
type. Also out of the above techniques mentioned some of them
are the advanced ones, and should be done after perfecting the
easier and basic ones.
The shatkarmas if practiced unnecessarily,
will not be so effective when genuinely required. Just as one
would not have tonsils or appendix removed if there were doing
perfectly, similarly shatkarmas have to be practiced by those
who require it.
No wonder these practices were treated with
great esteem and respect by the yogis who perfected them and
knew about their power.
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