Shatkarmas — six cleansing practices of yoga

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Shatkarmas — practices that cleanse the body. In sanskrit, "shat" means ‘six’ and "karma" means ‘action’. Six actions contributing to the improvement of the organism's functioning. Thanks to them, a person's life capabilities — working, thinking, digesting food, experiencing taste, feeling — increase; greater awareness develops.

Six actions are aimed at cleansing the gastrointestinal tract, nasal passages, eyes, and the brain's frontal lobe.

The main shatkarmas:

1. Kapalabhati — a cleansing practice through breathing.
2. Nauli — massage of the abdominal organs.
3. Trataka — continuous focused gazing at a specific object.
4. Neti — cleansing of the nasopharynx and adjacent cavities.
5. Basti — cleansing of the lower intestines.
6. Dhauti — internal cleansing, particularly of the entire digestive tract.

These techniques are described in detail in the books "Hatha Yoga Pradipika" and "Gheranda Samhita".

Regular and correctly performed cleansing practices assist in the path of self-development and yoga.

The goals of shatkarmas in yoga

The body is built from three doshas.

1. Kapha (‘mucus’).
2. Pitta (‘fire’, ‘heat’).
3. Vata (‘wind’).

Before mastering pranayamas, it is recommended to eliminate any imbalances in the doshas by removing mucus accumulated in the respiratory system, gases in the stomach and intestines, and excessive fat.

The six cleansing techniques of yoga — shatkarmas — are specially designed for these purposes. If the doshas are balanced, practicing them is not necessary.

He who has excess fat or mucus should perform shatkarmas (six cleansing techniques) before (pranayama). Others, in whom the doshas, that is, mucus, wind, and bile, are balanced, need not do them.

Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Shloka 21

When the body is cleansed of impurities, the nadis (energy channels) also begin to cleanse and expand, and energy blocks disappear. Energies move freely through the channels within the physical structure and reach the brain.

Shatkarmas balance the interaction of the physical body, mind, and energy and the processes occurring in them. When such balance exists, impulses are born that awaken the central force (sushumna-nadi), responsible for the development of human consciousness.

Despite their effectiveness in curing various diseases, shatkarmas in yoga were never specifically developed for treatment but only to create harmony in the body and mind and prepare for further, deeper practices.

Kapalabhati is a cleansing breathing practice. It energizes the entire brain and awakens the dormant centers responsible for subtle perception. Translates as ‘shining skull’.

"Kapal" means ‘skull’ or ‘forehead’, and the word "bhati" means ‘light’, ‘shine’, ‘splendor’, as well as ‘perception’ and ‘knowledge’.

This shatkarma is best done before morning practices of concentration and meditation, but only on an empty stomach.

Nauli is a massage of the abdominal organs through the contraction and isolation of the rectus abdominis muscles. In the book "Gheranda Samhita", this practice is called laulikis.

Before mastering this shatkarma, one should learn to correctly perform uddiyana-bandha. Agnisara-dhauti-kriya serves as a preliminary technique to nauli.

Trataka is a steady gaze concentrated on a specific object, a technique for focusing the mind and restraining its tendencies to fluctuate. It restores and maintains vision, helping to achieve inner harmony and balance.

The object of concentration can be a candle flame, symbols, a mandala, a full moon, mountains, deities, etc. For general use and developing concentration, a candle flame is most suitable. Other objects may leave an impression in the mind, add emotional color, stimulate specific centers.

Neti is a technique for cleansing the nose and its associated passages and sinuses from accumulated mucus. Supports the healthy functioning of the excretion and drainage mechanisms of the entire "ear — throat — nose" area.

Neti clears the skull and grants clairvoyance. It also destroys all diseases that manifest above the throat.

Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Shloka 20

Basti is a yogic practice that cleanses the lower digestive tract.

Two basti techniques are used — jala (water) and sthala (dry). The practice involves drawing water or air into the colon through the anus and subsequently expelling all contents from there. Water basti is performed through certain exercises that create low pressure in the abdominal cavity, allowing water to be drawn into the rectum.

Dhauti translates as ‘internal cleansing’. This section of shatkarmas includes several cleansing yoga techniques aimed at “cleaning” and harmonizing the digestive tract's functioning — both along its entire length and particular organs — as well as the respiratory pathways, ears, and eyes.

When the body is cleansed, the mind becomes more stable, emotional reactions to external factors change — becoming increasingly controllable. Main shatkarmas allow one to gain control over unruly sense organs. These practices not only cleanse the organs and systems of the physical body but also affect the subtle body.

Shatkarmas — a set of powerful, effective methods for cleansing and harmonizing the physical and energetic body. But to maintain the balance created, one must practice asanas, pranayama, meditation, adhere to the daily routine, and eat properly. Otherwise, impurities will accumulate again, and the body will return to its former state.

Literature:

1. Swami Svatmarama. Hatha Yoga Pradipika.
2. Gheranda Samhita.