Cleansing Techniques
मेदश्लेश्मााधिकाहा पूवं षटकर्मानि समाचरेत्।
अन्यस्तु नाचरेत्तानि दोषानं समभवावतहः।।
हठयोग प्रदीपिका (२:२१)
when fat or mucus is excessive, the shatkarmas or six cleansing techniques should be practised before (pranayama). Others, in whom the Doshas (phlegm, wind and bile) are balanced, need not do them.
Hatha yoga, as described in the early Yoga Upanishads, was made up of the shatkarmas and is a very precise and systematic science. ‘Shat’ means ‘six’ and ‘Karma’ means ‘action’; the shatkarmas consist of six groups of purification practices. The aim of hatha yoga and, therefore, of the shatkarmas is to create harmony between the two major pranic flows, ida and pingala, thereby attaining physical and mental purification and balance. The shatkarmas are also used to balance the three doshas or humours in the body: Kapha(mucus) Pitta(bile) and Vata(wind). According to Ayurveda and Hatha Yoga, an imbalance in the doshas will result in illness. These practices are also used before pranayama and other higher yoga practices in order to purify the body of toxins and to ensure safe and successful progression along the spiritual path. These powerful techniques should never be learned from books or taught by inexperienced people. According to the tradition, only those instructed by a guru may teach others.
Objective Of Kriya:
Cleanse the inner tracts namely the optical path, respiratory tract, G.I.T & refresh the inner passages.
Develop an inner awareness and if you practice shatkarma creates harmony in body and mind.
Desensitize the possible hypersensitive reaction in the path ways, build the forbearance capacity. It’s very good for general health; this increases one’s capacity to work, think, digest, taste, feel, experience, etc.
धौतिर्बस्तिस्तथा नेतिस्त्राटकं नौलिकं तथा।
कपालभातिश्चैतानि षट् कर्माणि प्रचक्षते।।
॥ हठ योग प्रदिपिका २– २२ ॥
Dhautirbastistathā netistrāṭakaṁ naulikaṁ tathā|
Kapālabhātiścaitāni ṣaṭ karmāṇi pracakṣate ||
|| HYP 2- 22||
