THE YOGIC INTERNAL CLEANSING PROCESS

The Art of Yogic Purification: A Deep Dive into the Six Shatkriyas

In our modern world, we go to great lengths to maintain external cleanliness. We wash our hands, shower daily, and carefully clean our environments. But according to classical yoga philosophy, true health begins from within.

In Hatha Yoga, the body is viewed as a sacred vehicle evolving toward higher consciousness. To keep this vehicle running smoothly, internal cleansing is just as essential as external hygiene. The following sections break down the ancient science of Kriyās—specifically the Shatkriyas or six purification processes—as prescribed by classical texts like the Hatha Yoga Pradīpikā and modern masters like Swami Vishnudevananda.

What are Kriyās?

Our bodies naturally eliminate waste through the lungs, kidneys, sweat glands, and bowels. However, for those living in a polluted world—where our air, food, and water are compromised—or for individuals who possess a "flabby and phlegmatic" constitution, the classical texts strongly recommend the six yogic cleansing exercises known as Kriyās.

"The expression of the spirit increases in proportion to the development of the body and mind in which it is encased." — Swami Vishnudevananda, Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga

These techniques drastically speed up the body's natural detoxification process, especially when paired with fasting, acting as nature's cure for toxin-driven diseases.

The Six Shatkriyas Broken Down

1. Trātaka (Steady Gazing)

Trātaka involves staring at a minute object or particular point without blinking until tears start flowing. This practice strengthens the eyes, stimulates nerve centers, and develops intense powers of concentration.

  • Candle Gazing: This involves placing a candle at eye level (3–4 feet away), gazing at the flame for one minute, then closing the eyes to visualize the flame between the eyebrows.

  • Frontal Gazing: This is practiced by turning half-closed eyes upward toward the space between the eyebrows (ājñā cakra), which stimulates the olfactory and optic nerves.

  • Nasal Gaze: This practice involves relaxing the body and gazing steadily at the tip of the nose for 1–2 minutes to enhance concentration.

2. Neti (Nasal Cleaning)

Unclean nostrils lead to irregular breathing, making us susceptible to colds and environmental pollution. Neti clears the nasal passages and sinuses:

  • Jala Neti (Water Cleaning): This consists of pouring lukewarm salt water through a neti pot (lota) into one nostril and letting it flow naturally out of the other while breathing through the mouth.

  • Sutra Neti (Thread Cleaning): This technique involves a sterile string or catheter being inserted through the nostril and drawn out through the mouth to clear physical obstructions.

3. Kapālabhātāi (Cleansing of Lungs and Bronchial Tubes)

Kapālabhātāi is an essential preliminary exercise for pranayama that focuses on forceful exhalations and passive inhalations. By rapidly expelling large quantities of carbon dioxide, it makes the blood richer in oxygen, renews body tissues, and stimulates the stomach, liver, and pancreas.

4. Dhautī (Upper Digestive Tract Cleaning)

Dhautī focuses on cleansing the stomach and esophagus to eradicate diseases caused by excess phlegm and bile. It includes:

  • Vamana Dhautī (Kunjar Kriyā): This involves drinking 4–8 glasses of lukewarm salt water and voluntarily vomiting it back up on an empty stomach to clear excess acid and mucus.

  • Vastra Dhautī (Cloth Purification): This requires slowly swallowing a fine strip of wet gauze cloth (15 feet long and 3 inches wide), retaining it briefly, and gently withdrawing it.

  • Safety Note: Water and cloth purification should not be practiced by anyone who has ever had an eating disorder.

5. Naulī (Abdominal Churning)

Naulī is considered a crown practice of Hatha Yoga that involves the isolation and rotation of the abdominal muscles.

  • The Benefit: It stimulates gastric fire, remedies digestive disorders, tones the liver and pancreas, and increases the internal flow of prāṇa (vital energy).

  • Preparatory Exercises: Uddiyana bandha and agni sāra are used as essential preparatory steps to strengthen the abdominal wall.

6. Bastī (Colon Cleansing)

The final shatkriya is a yogic enema traditionally performed by sitting in a tub of water and using abdominal vacuum movements (naulī) to draw water into the lower colon. Bastī completely cleanses the large intestine, removes chronic constipation, and refines bodily fluids.

Conclusion: A Word of Caution

While the Kriyās offer profound physical benefits—from clearing out respiratory toxins to resetting your entire digestive tract—they are powerful therapeutic practices. As noted throughout the instructional material, advanced practices like Sutra Neti, Vastra Dhautī, and Naulī should initially be learned under the direct guidance of an experienced yoga teacher to avoid strain or injury.

When practiced correctly, these internal purifications provide a clean slate, allowing your physical body to stay strong, healthy, and perfectly primed for deeper spiritual work.

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