#69 - Nasal Passages Purification

This week, we are going to try something quite uncommon, at least for the western majority. We are going to clean nasal passages with a special pot called Neti Pot, and with a special breathing technique called Kapalabhati.

Jala Neti Kriya (Sanskrit - Nasal Cleansing) is a cleansing practice of the sinus passages with warm (body temperature) saline water.

Yogis have practiced it for centuries for its innumerable and powerful benefits.

It is also called Saline Nasal Irrigation.

Relax! It's not difficult as it might sound. Usually, when people hear about Jala Neti, their first reaction is - "How can I put water inside my nose?!". But once they do it, people are surprised by its simplicity and effectiveness.

The regular practice of Jala Neti helps to facilitate deep breathing improving the effects of breathing techniques that are focused on nasal breathing.

In yoga, it has been used for its extremely powerful physical, psychological and spiritual benefits.

I can see it in the modern world that Jala Neti has gained immense popularity because of its effect on the sinuses.

It solves sinus infection and allergy problems without the use of drugs with immediate, immense, and sustained results and without side effects.

Benefits of Jala Neti:

• Daily practice helps maintain nasal hygiene by removing the dirt and bacteria trapped along with the mucus in the nostrils.

• It soothes the sensitive tissues inside the nose, which can assuage rhinitis or allergies.

• It is beneficial in dealing with asthmatic conditions and making breathing easier.

• It reduces tinnitus and middle ear infections.

• It helps abate sinusitis or migraine attack.

• It can alleviate upper respiratory complaints like sore throats, tonsils, and dry coughs.

• Clearing nasal passages help improve the sense of smell.

• It can also cure snoring during sleep.

Warm saline water loosens and dissolves internal build-ups, sucking out dirt and bacterias. Due to gravity and a venturi-effect, sinus passages are drained by the vacuum pressure flow of the water. Whereas it would normally be impossible to drain a “dead end” cavity like the sinuses, Jala Neti achieves this ingeniously and simply.

Preferably you should practise it in the morning on the empty stomach.

Follow the step by step instructions:

• You will need a special Neti Pot - you can easily get it online;

• Check the capacity of your Neti and heat filtered or bottled water to the point of boiling.

• Add a teaspoon (usually they provide with measure cup) of good quality of salt.

• Let the water get to 36.5 to 40.5 Celsius (lukewarm). It can be poured through the nose without causing a burning sensation.

• Sniff out your nose.

• Tilt your head and insert the nozzle of the neti pot into the nostril opposite (start with the nostril that is breathing better at that moment).

• Breath slowly, through your mouth by keeping it partially open.

• Tilt the neti pot until the water starts coming out of the other nostril by gravity.

• Let the whole pot capacity run through one nostril and alternate this procedure with the other one.

• Once you will complete flushing the nasal passages apply the Kapalabhati breathing technique to let the water dried out.

Precautions:

If your nose is bleeding or it's infected internally. The best is to ask your family doctor for approval.

Kapalabhati (Sanskrit kapala - skull, bhati - shinning, illuminating) is a breathing technique that is in this case will serve as a part of the nasal cleansing process.

It can be also used as a separate practice which is an important purification method in Hatha Yoga.

This breath carries also additional benefits:

• Illuminates the mind, triggers subtle perception.

• It removes fatigue and drowsiness.

• It frees the mind from mental distortions.

• Its purpose is to strengthen and balance the nervous system.

How to do it:

• In a sitting position. Inhale and exhale through both nostrils.

• The exhalation is active, whereas inhalation results from an active exhalation. When you want to exhale, draw your attention to the lower abdomen under the navel and you activate this part. By violently activating the lower abdomen (you are rapidly, dynamically "tossing" down your abdomen, which goes in and up, forcing air out). Exhale should not cause breathlessness, a feeling of lack of air before you finish one round. If you feel dizzy, this may mean that you are putting too much effort into exhaling.

• You can gradually increase the number of exhalations in one round.

• The number of repetitions and rounds may differ from the predisposition and advancement level, and the message, so it may depend on the teacher's instructions.

You use the lower abdomen, not your chest, to exhale sharply!

The abdomen is active and there should be no movement in the spine. The back remains elongated and still while performing the Kapalabhati.

It's recommended to do it on an empty stomach, that's why the ideal time for nasal cleaning and Kapalabhati will mostly be likely the morning after you wake up. It's suggested to do it after Yoga Asana, and after Jala Neti, but before concentration and meditation.

It should not be performed by people with hypertension, heart diseases, after a stroke, if there are hernias and stomach ulcers, and if they appear dizzy. It's also not recommended for pregnant women.