The yogis use six ancient cleansing techniques to purify the body and facilitate the flow of energy and healing. These cleansing techniques, known as shat-kriyas or shat-karmas, which literally means "practices" or "rites," help to purify and cleanse the body and also make you more aware of and intimate with your body's internal processes.
Nauli
Nauli is the yogic technique of pumping of the stomach. This technique is thought to help with the cleansing your internal organs. Nauli is accomplished first by learning four specific abdominal movements that involve isolation and contraction of all of the abdominal muscles.
Neti
Neti is the cleansing of your nasal passages and cavities, either using a string, water or milk and a Neti pot. There are three generally accepted techniques of Neti. Jala neti is a nasal cleansing technique that uses a salt-and-water solution and Neti pot. Dugdha Neti is a slightly different nasal cleansing technique, using warmed milk in the Neti pot, in place of salted water. Sutra Neti is another nasal cleansing technique using a waxed string inserted in your nostrils to cleanse the nasal passages.
Vasti
Vasti is the process of cleansing your colon using enemas. According to Ramachandra S.K. Rao in his book, "Encyclopaedia of Indian Medicine," there are several types of cleansing techniques that use different drugs, oils, ghee or animal fat to accomplish this process.
Trataka
Trataka is the yogic technique of staring without blinking. It is also a form of third-eye meditation. This technique is usually performed while staring at a candle or another inanimate object. Trataka is thought to develop inner psychic powers, improve concentration, induce relaxation and disconnect you from the outer world.
Kapalbhati
Kapalbhati is the yogic technique of breathing for cleansing and purification purposes. It is a powerful, involved process that is believed to cleanse the lungs, eliminate toxins, and increase oxygen absorption, allowing more toxins to be eliminated in your bloodstream.
Dhauti
Dhauti is a yogic stomach-cleansing technique. There are three separate processes involved in Dhauti, known as Varman Dhauti, Vastra Dhauti and Danda Dhauti. Vamana Dhauti is a process thought to be beneficial for stomach cleansing and purification. In this process, you drink 2 liters of salted water, and then vomit the water out of your body. Vastra Dhauti involves the partial ingestion of a muslin cloth, which is pulled out of your body when it has been ingested halfway. Danda Dhauti involves the insertion of a special tube or stick into your esophagus until it reaches your stomach, then slowly removed to release impurities.
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