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YOGIC CLEANING OF THE PHYSICAL BODY As we have seen, the expression of the spirit increases in proportion to the development of the body and mind in which it is encased. Therefore, Yoga prescribes methods to train and develop the physical body and mind. The highly trained body must first of all be strong and healthy. The goal of all Yogic teaching is how to concentrate the mind, how to discover its hidden facets, and how to awaken the inner spiritual faculties. As we go deeper into Yoga, we find that it teaches that mind is only the body's finer part and both interact and each acts upon the other. When one is angry, the emotions of the mind affect the body, which makes the eyes red, the fists clench, and the face fierce-looking. However, with most of mankind the mind is very little developed and is entirely under the control of the body. Even a superficial analysis will reveal that we have, in fact, very little command over the mind because the body exerts a powerful control over it. By learning to control the body we can easily train the mind. The following facts prove the interdependence of the body and mind and their reactions upon each other. By treating the body with modern shock therapy, mental symptoms are relieved. This was accidentally discovered by a psychiatrist who noted in certain patients a disappearance of mental symptoms, when they had suffered typhoid fever. The cause of this cure was revealed during experiments ten years later, when mental patients were injected with various fever-producing organisms. During the experiments, spectacular results were obtained when patients suffering from a syphilitic mental derangement were inoculated with malaria. Out of these and other experiments came shock therapy. Disappearance of symptoms of mental disease was also noted when patients were injected with various substances, such as milk and foreign blood, which stimulate a strong reaction on the part of the body. This, in turn, helps to remove mental tension, showing cleanly that body and mind are interconnected. In order to gain control of body and mind, we must first have the help of certain physical exercises. After the body is sufficiently controlled, we can start training the mind. With the training of the mind, concentration power increases and we will be able to manipulate the internal forces and to find the basic unit from which the whole world is made. The end and aim of science is to discover this unit from which all this manifold universe is being manufactured, the one intelligence that becomes many. Part of the Yogic discipline is physical exercises, although the major part is mental. In Yoga, control of the body starts with cleaning processes known as kriyas, the first step to eliminate poisonous substances accumulated in the system. The body is constantly throwing off waste materials through its mechanisms. Kidneys eliminate uric acid and other waste products, which come through the blood. Sweat glands remove waste materials through perspiration, which contains poisons. We throw away impurities of the body through various openings by means of perspiration, urine, excretion, and breathing. But for this excretory system, the body would be loaded with disease-carrying poisons. Yoga pays great attention to removing waste materials which our organs are not able to throw off. In some cases, Yogic cleaning even assists nature in removing waste products. We clean our skin daily, which keeps the pores of the skin open and free from dirt. Again, everybody brushes his teeth. But Yogic cleaning goes a little farther and cleans some of the important parts of the body that are generally neglected. These cleaning processes are scientific and hygienic and remove ailments caused by improper attention to these portions of the body. Six Kriyas are meant for cleaning the respiratory system, food pipe, stomach, eyes, and the lower colon. These exercises are specially prescribed for those who are flabby and phlegmatic. The names of these six kriyas are dhauti, basti, neti, nauli, tratak, and kkapalbhati, or cleaning the stomach, cleaning the colon, cleaning the nasal passage, cleaning the abdominal organs, gazing exercise for the eyes, and cleaning the respiratory organs. Dhauti is divided into four: (1) antar-dhauti, internal washing; (2) danta-dhauti, cleaning of the teeth; (3) hrid-dhauti, cleaning of the throat; (4) moola-sodhana, cleaning of the rectum. Again, antar-dhauti or internal washing is divided into four parts: (a) wind purification; (b) water purification; (c) agni-sara, fire purification; (d) cloth purification.  Plate 1 WIND PURIFICATION This dhauti is a difficult process and is practiced only under the guidance of an expert. Moreover, to swallow air to the stomach by closing the epiglottis is a matter of training. Here the Yogi trains himself to close his epiglottis and, with a sudden push, he pushes a little volume of air to the stomach. He rests for a second and repeats the same process until his stomach is filled with air. Then slowly he belches the air along with the foul gases from the stomach.  Plate 2  Plate 3 WATER PURIFICATION Drink a large quantity of salt water and shake the abdominal portions. Contract the stomach and put the fingers at the root of the tongue and tickle until the water is vomited. The Sanskrit name for this process is kunjar kriya. AGNI SARA The student sits with crossed legs and inhales deeply. Then with a forced exhalation he empties the lungs as much as possible. After the exhalation, he keeps the breath out for a few moments without inhaling. In this condition, his diaphragm is raised naturally to the thoracic cavity and he can manipulate the abdominal muscles. Again, as long as his diaphragm is in the raised position, he pumps the abdominal muscles inward and outward in a quick succession. In each round, when he empties his lungs, he pumps fifteen to twenty times without inhaling. This is one round. A student can practice ten rounds daily. This exercise stimulates the liver, spleen, kidneys, and pancreas, reduces the abdominal fat, and removes constipation. CLOTH PURIFICATION The alimentary canal is a long tube that extends from mouth to anus. It is made up of the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine. The greater part of the alimentary canal lies in the abdominal portion of the ventral cavity. This cleaning process is very essential to remove mucus and other waste products from the esophagus and stomach. The general structural plan of the digestive tube is: 1. A lining of mucous membrane, in which there are numerous glands. 2. A submucous layer of loose connective tissue into which glands may penetrate from the mucous membrane and in which the main blood vessels are located. 3. Layers of smooth muscular tissue. 4. An outer layer, which is fibrous in nature. The stomach is the most dilated portion of the digestive tube. It succeeds the esophagus. The inner surface of the stomach is thrown into folds called rugae, when the organ is empty. This is due to the looseness of the submucous layer and the action of the muscles. These inner linings of the stomach are covered with a coating of food products and waste materials from the food. Especially when there is accumulation of dirt on the stomach walls, there will be a feeling of sluggishness of the stomach and loss of appetite. Acute indigestion usually follows the intake of substances that are obnoxious to the stomach. Consumption of too great quantities of food or a wrong diet may irritate the stomach lining or these substances may decompose in the stomach and thus initiate acute dyspepsia. A frequent cause is the taking of food that has begun to decompose, particularly in hot weather. Another common cause is the use of alcohol. The lining of such a stomach is swollen and reddened, covered with much mucus and, in some cases, there may be hemorrhage. In mild cases, the symptoms are indigestion and an uncomfortable feeling in the abdomen, headache, depression, nausea, belching, and vomiting. Vomiting is nature's way to eliminate unwanted food and mucus from the stomach. Dyspepsia is another common disease from which many persons suffer. Dyspepsia means difficult or painful digestion. The outstanding symptom of dyspepsia is abdominal discomfort or pain. The intensity of the sensation may vary in degree from a slight feeling of heaviness to agonizing pain almost beyond endurance. This occurs usually after meals. Again nature's remedy, vomiting, may sometimes give relief. Another condition of the stomach, called gastroptosis, or falling of the stomach, is not uncommon. It occurs more often in women than in men. Small amounts of food satiate persons having gastroptosis and they have little desire for food after the first mouthful. This is apparently due to the inability of the food and secretions to get out of the stomach into the small intestine. Because of the stagnation and pressure caused by the drag of the stomach, the duodenum, the first part of the small intestine, becomes dilated. When substances are absorbed from the duodenum they may be poisonous, bringing on headache, dizziness, nausea, and lack of appetite. The stomach is one of the major organs that may cause various diseases if it is not kept clean and healthy. Therefore, some of the Yogic cleaning practices are a practical help to keep it in good condition. The cloth purification is practiced in the following way. Take a fine piece of muslin cloth, three inches wide and fifteen feet long. The borders should be well stitched and no pieces of loose thread should be hanging from its sides. Wash it clean with soap before use. Dip it in tepid salt water. Squeezed out the water and swallow one end of it little by little. On the first day, swallow only one foot of the length. Keep it there for a few seconds and then take it out very slowly. On the next day, swallow a little more, retain it a few minutes, then take it out slowly, Thus little by little you can swallow the whole length, being careful to catch the end firmly with the hands. Retain it for about two minutes and then remove it. Do not be hasty, Do not injure your throat by rough treatment. When this kriya is over, drink a cup of milk. This is a sort of lubrication for the throat. This exercise should be done with an empty stomach, preferably in the morning. You need not practice this every day. Once in four days or once a week is sufficient. This exercise cannot do any harm at all, if gradually practiced. Everyone will feel a little vomiting sensation on the first two or three attempts. As soon as the kriya is over, wash the cloth with soap and dry it. This is an excellent exercise for those who are flabby and have a phlegmatic constitution. Gradual, steady practice cures gastritis, dyspepsia, diseases of the stomach and spleen, disorders of phlegm and bile. To get the cloth moving slowly without any difficulty, gulp down a little salt water along with the cloth. This will lubricate the esophagus and throat and enable the cloth to move smoothly. To be on the safe side, always practice this cleaning in the early morning with empty stomach, preferable under the guidance of an able teacher. DANTA DHAUTI Danta dhautis cleaning of the teeth, which is commonly done by civilized man. Along with cleaning of the teeth, it is essential to give gum massage, which strengthens the gums and squeezes out the impure matter from the gum pores. HRID DHAUTI For cleaning the tongue and root of the throat, join together the index, middle and ring fingers and insert them into the throat. Rub well the root of the tongue, waste it again, and repeat the process several times. Mouth washes and gargles with salt water are also essential to keep the throat free of infection. There are general inflammations of the throat, associated with redness, swelling, and excessive discharge of mucus from many different causes. The most common causes are exposure to cold, an extension of inflammation from the tonsils or nose, use of tobacco excessive exposure to dust, smoke, and irritation fumes; atmospheric conditions may cause irritation of the throat. There may be severe pain associated with swelling and inflammation of the throat, including pain in the ears because of blocking of the tubes that lead from the nose to the ears. Hrid dhauti should be practice daily with cleaning of the teeth and tongue. With the thumb of the right hand, rub the depression in the forehead near the bridge of the nose. By this practice, diseases arising from derangements of phlegmatic humors are cured. These exercises purify the nervous system and clairvoyance is induced. They cure various abdominal diseases, enlarged spleen, some skin diseases, and disorders of phlegm and bile. KARNA DHAUTI (EAR CLEANING) Various disturbances affect the canal up to the point of the eardrum. Under such circumstances, it is necessary to remove the infection and to prevent its recurrence by the use of proper cleaning. The wax of the ear is easiest removed, when it becomes hardened, by the use of a syringe with slightly warm water or with a piece of cotton. This need not be done often. Too frequent syringing may be harmful. Never put anything in the external ear such as wires, toothpicks, or ear spoons, as the tissues are most delicate and may be seriously harmed by such practice. MOOLA SODHANA (RECTUM IRRIGATION) Moola sodhana, cleaning the lower colon with water, will be explained in the practice of bhasthi. NETI (NASAL CLEANING) Neti is cleansing of the nasal passage of the respiratory system. The nose and phaynx establish connection between the respiratory system and the exterior. A part of the pharynx is used in common by the respiratory and digestive systems. The respiratory system consists of the larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs. Its function is to permit air to come in close contact with the circulating blood so that gaseous exchanges can occur. When we inhale air we also inhale dust particles and germs. To prevent this foreign matter from entering the lungs, nature has designed a filtering system. In the nostrils the tough hairs first filter the gross dust particles and prevent them from entering into the lungs. Secondly, the mucous membrane is ciliated and the cilia remove particles and gems from the air as it passes. The cilia act together to remove fluids or particles that come in contact with the ciliated surface. The air is warmed and moistened as it passes through the nasal cavity and comes in contact with the mucous membrane. The most important of the structures in the nose, from the point of viewof disease, is the mucous membrane or tissue that lines the cavities. It is one of the most sensitiv etissues in the body, and when bruisedorhurt in any way it may give a person considerable trouble. It is now generally well known that common pus-forming germs, such as staphylococcus and streptococcus, are wide spread and easily get into the human body whenever they come in contact with a tissue that has been damaged. They may set up an infection that eventually may spread throughout the entire body. To assist nature in cleaning such foreign matter in the nasal passage and the mucous membrane, string, water, and air are used by Yogis. These not only remove foreign matter, but prevent catching colds and keep the olfactory nerve in a healthy condition. Before going into the technique, a small description of the structure of the nasal passage and pharynx will help the student to practice this cleaning in a scientific way. Although the nose and pharynx are not really parts of there respiratory system proper, they will be so considered here for convenience. The pharynx is divided into parts; some of these are common to the digestive and respiratory system. The larynx, in addition to being a passage way for air, is used for the production of voice. Thus many organs that play a part in respiration serve other functions as well. The nasal cavity is divided into two nasal fossae by the nasal septum, The roof of the nasal cavity is made up chiefly by the cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone. The floor is composed of the palatal processes of the maxillae and he horizontal processes of the palate bone. The walls of the nasal cavity are covered with periosteum and mucous membrane. The next important thing to be noted here during the cleaning process is the pharynx. The pharynx is common to the respiratory and digestive systems in a part of its extent. It is a vertical tubular passage that extends from the base of the skull above to the beginning of the esophagus below. Anteriorly, it communicates with the nasal cavity; beneath this, with the oral cavity; and below this with the laryngeal cavity. This communication between the nasal cavity and the oral cavity of the pharynx helps in cleaning this portion with a piece of special string. Half the string is hard enough to push through the nasal cavity until it touches the root of the throat. With the help of the fingers, the string is pulled out through the mouth. As the thread comes out through the nasal passage, pharynx, and mouth, the other half of the string is soft enough to absorb and clean various foreign particles accumulated in its way. This is called thread-cleaning technique. If this special string cannot be obtained, then a rubber catheter, readily available at any drug store, can be used. The string or the catheter must be sterilized before use and should be thoroughly cleaned afterward. The string should be dipped in lukewarm salt water before insertion. Take the stiff portion of the string first and bend it in a bow like shape and, using the index finger and thumb, insert it ino the right nostril first, a few inches inside, then withdraw it; then isert in the same manner into the left nostril. It is common to sneeze violently for the first few days, but gradually the sneezing will subside as progress is made. It will be easier to insert the string as far as possible toward the throat. When the string is felt to beat the root of the tongue, with the index finger and thumb pull the end through the mouth and out until the whole string passes from the nostril. A few days' practice, with the help of a teacher, will perfect this technique. There is another easy method of cleaning the nostrils that can be practiced without any difficulty. This is done with lukewarm salt water. To a glass of lukewarm water add a teaspoonful of common salt and stir well. With the use of a nasal douche, which is available at any drugstore, pour a small portion of the salt water through one nostril, closing the other with the thumb. Raise the head and allow the water to water as it brings an unpleasant sensation. Just allow it to flow to the mouth naturally, by keeping the head raised, then spirit out. At this point, a small quantity of water will remain in the nasal passage, which must be blown out immediately by a forced expiration. This process should be repeated three times with each nostril. By practicing this, we can eliminate the very common disease, the common cold. Breathing becomes easier, hence it is preferable to do the breathing exercises after this cleaning. Besides removing foreign matter from the nasal passage and the throat, it also helps to strengthen the eyes because there is a stimulation of the blood vessels of the eyes and nose by this cleaning. Tratak is steady gazing at a particular point or object without winking. Though this is one of the six purificatory exercises, it is mainly intended for developing concentration and mental focusing . It is very useful for students of Hatha Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, and Raja Yoga. This practice helps also to improve eye sight. On the following pages are shown three variations of the Tratakam technique. Followed by: NAULI KRIYA (MANIPULATION OF THE ABDOMINAL MUSCLES) Back to Workshop Intro Page |