Sathkaram

by Vibudhah April 24, 2013 0 comments article E-Paper health Yoga

 SIX PRACTICES known as SATHKARAM.

Shatkarma (Sanskrit: षटकर्मन ṣaṭkarman), also known as Shatkriya, refers to the Yogic practices involving purification of the body.

These practices, outlined in the Haṭha Yoga Pradīpikā as kriyā.

 

Dhauti is 1st important part of the Shatkarma (sometimes known as Shatkriya), the yogic system of body cleansing techniques. It is intended mainly to the cleaning of the digestive tract in its full length but it affects also the respiratory tract, external ears and eyes. According to Gheranda Samhita,it is divided into four parts: Antar (internal) dhauti, Danta (teeth) dhauti, Hrid (cardiac or chest region) dhauti and Moola shodhana (rectal cleansing).

Basti is 2nd important part of Shatkarma (sometimes known as Shatkriya), the yogic system of body cleansing techniques. It is intended mainly to the cleaning of the lower abdomen, especially the colon. Both the Hatha Yoga Pradipika and other sources usually attribute to it many beneficial effects. There are basically two techniques to perform Basti:

1. Sthala basti (aka Sushka basti or Vata basti), cleans the colon by sucking air in the body without the help of any catheter or tube.
2. Jala basti (aka 'Vati basti') cleans the colon by sucking water into the anus. It is allowed the use of a catheter tube.

Neti is 3rd important part of Shatkarma (sometimes known as Shatkriya), the yogic system of body cleansing techniques. It is intended mainly to the cleaning of the air passageways in the head. Both the Hatha Yoga Pradipika and other sources usually attribute to Neti many beneficial effects that range from profound physiological ones on the body, mind and personality to even clairvoyance. The two main variants are jala neti using water and the more advanced sutra neti using string.

Trāṭaka (Sanskrit n. त्राटक trāṭaka; tratak, trataka: to look, or to gaze) is the practice of staring at some external object. This fixed gazing is a method of meditation which involves concentrating on a single point such as a small object, black dot or candle flame. It is used in yoga as a way of developing concentration, strengthening the eyes, and stimulating the ājňā chakra.
In its first stage, the practitioner fixes his attention on a symbol or yantra, such as the Om symbol, a black dot, or the image of some deity, and stares at it, paying attention to each thought and feeling as it arises, and letting them go, so that the mind is completely absorbed in the symbol. The practice continues until the eyes begin to water, at which point they are closed, and relaxed.
The second stage is staring at a candle flame. The practice is the same up until the eyes begin to water, after which the eyes are closed, and the yogi tries to concentrate on the after image, and hold it for as long as possible. At first, it will be a real after-image, but later, it will exist only in the mind's eye, and the exercise in concentration comes from trying to maintain it there for a long period of time.

Nauli is one of the Kriyas or Shatkarma (cleaning exercises) from Yoga. The exercise is claimed to serve the cleaning of the abdominal region - digestive organs, small intestine and is based on a massage of the internal belly organs by a circular movement of the abdominal muscles.
Nauli is an exercise of the classical Hatha Yoga but is not taught often in yoga schools. Nauli is considered as a difficult exercise, which can be learned only with perseverance and patience. There are four different variations, which are gradually learned one after another:

1. madhyana nauli: the isolated contraction of the central muscles of the abdominis
2. vama nauli: (2) the isolated contraction of the left part of the central muscles of the abdomen
3. daksina nauli: the isolated contraction of the right part of the central muscles of the abdomen
4. nauli kriya: the circular movement of the central muscles of the abdomen 

In yoga, Nauli generally recommended for the recovery of constipation. The exercise may clean the small intestine and eliminate digesting problems.

Kapalabhati (pronounced KAH-pah-lah-BAH-tee) (aka Kapalbhati, or Bhalabhai in the Gherand Samhita), is an important part of Shatkarma (sometimes known as Shatkriya), the yogic system of body cleansing techniques. The word kapalbhati is made up of two words, kapal meaning skull (here skull includes all the organs under the skull too) and bhati means shining, illuminating. Due to the process, the organs under the skull mainly the brain and the small brain are influenced in a good manner. Hence the word is used in that way. It is intended mainly to the cleaning of the cranial sinuses but has many other effects, according to the Gherand Samhita and other sources. The Technique of Kapalabhati involves short and strong forceful exhalations and inhalation happens automatically. There are three forms of Kapalabhati:

1. Vatakrama kapalabhati, a practice similar to Bhastrika, a technique of Pranayama, except that exhalation is active while inhalation is passive, the opposite of normal breathing.
2. Vyutkrama kapalabhati, a practice similar to Jala neti, it involves sniffing water through the nostrils and letting it flow down into the mouth and then spitting it out.
3. Sheetkrama kapalabhati, can be considered the reverse of Vyutkrama kapalabhati, in which water is taken through the mouth and then expelled through the nose.

_____________ By Dr. Viney Pushkarna, PRANA Health