Are you a practicing yogi or yogini? Do you consider your body as your temple and your practice of your prayers? Have you ever been curious about how to keep your body temple clean and fresh? Or are you simply seeking a way towards a healthier cleaner lifestyle? Do you suffer from sinus congestion or frequent allergies? If you answered yes to any of these questions then read on and discover all about the ancient cleansing techniques of Jala Neti

The Yogic Context:

Let’s begin by looking at one of the most important yogic texts; The Hatha Yoga Pradeepika. The text describes six yogic purification practices; the Shatkarmas. These purification practices have been used by yogis throughout time, in order to cleanse the physical body and prepare the mind for yoga’s deeper practices. The techniques lead to a purified body by removing toxins, leaving it strong and disease-free. This then allows for the prana or life force to flow freely through the body’s energy channels regenerating the body’s organs, and energetical field and allowing for access to deeper concentration and ultimately access to the higher consciousness through other yogic practices such as meditation. Neti is the first step of these six purification techniques.

What are the six Shatkarmas?

Dhauti, Basti, Neti, Trataka, Nauli and Kapalbhati.

A closer look at Jala Neti:

Neti, or Jala neti- a Sanskrit word, jala, means “water” and neti means to “guide”.

The nasal cleansing technique has its origin in ancient India and has been practicing throughout time in both yoga and its sister science- Ayurveda.

Neti is used to cleanse the sinuses, and the air passages in the head. It has been practiced using the Neti-pot, a small teapot-like instrument with a small thin spout that channels the water through the nose.

Nasal hygiene along with other internal cleansing practices consider as important as brushing your teeth in Yoga and Ayurveda. Our sinus cavities can become clogged and blocked with impurities, which can cause a variety of problems further on.

By practicing nasal hygiene using the Neti pot you can avoid many conditions such as infections, congestion, migraine, headaches, allergies, and asthma.

Neti is designed as a very simple, straightforward practice that can be incorporated into your daily routine, along with things such as brushing your hair and teeth. Taking just a few minutes, Neti is designed to be carried out in the morning on a regular basis.

The Neti pot (a small teapot-like apparatus, as mentioned before) channels water through one nostril which flows out through the other nostril carrying with it any trapped allergens or germs and relieving the symptoms of congestion etc. as it exits the body.

While this technique may be unknown to many it has been used in India for hundreds of years.

It is an incredibly easy, quick and harmless practice that can give remarkable benefits. A bonus is that you don’t need to invest in any special expensive equipment or even leave the comfort of your home to practice Neti. All you need is a simple pot.

The Benefits of Jala Neti:

Neti helps to maintain nasal hygiene by removing the dirt and bacteria trapped along with the mucus in the nostrils.

1. removes dirt and bacteria trapped with the mucus in nostrils.
2. It desensitizes sensitive tissues inside the nose which can cause rhinitis, asthma, or allergy.
3. Can help alleviate health problems such as sinusitis, migraine, headaches, ear problems, and middle ear infections.
4. Jala Neti can help with upper respiratory complaints, sore throats, tonsils, and dry coughs.
5. It can clear the eye ducts and improve vision.
6. Jala Neti also calms the mind and nervous system which helps in relieving stress and giving clarity to the mind.
7. It helps can aid with asthmatic conditions and improve breathing quality.
8. Can help with middle ear infections.
9. Clearing the nasal passageways helps improve digestion and sense of smell.
10. It deepens the quality of meditation

How to Practice Jala Neti:

1. mix 1 tablespoon of salt to one liter of warm water. the water should be slightly warm so that it does not irritate the tissues inside the nostrils.
2. Pour saltwater into the Neti Pot can be made of copper, steel, ceramic, plastic or other materials.
3. Place the spout of the pot into one nostril.
4. Tilt your head gently keeping the spout on the upper side. Open your mouth (Breathing should be done through the mouth during the process). Water will begin to pour out of the empty nostril, you can adjust the tilt of the head until this happens. Continue till the water in the pot is complete.
5. Fill the pot again with salt water and do the same on the other nostril.
6. You can repeat this process any number of times. Depending on the need.

Note- Jal Neti should be practising only under the guidance of an expert practitioner.

At Mahi Yoga School we instruct Jala Neti as part of the Shatkarmas. Carefully explaining the significance of Jal Neti Kriya, we guide our students in the special practice of shatkarmas or yoga kriyas.

We also guide our students through the process of ‘sutra neti’ where a thick strong thread is inserted into the nose and pulled out from the mouth, to aid the cleansing process of the passages. We also instruct the other 4 cleansing kriyas for a complete detox effect in the true yogic tradition.

If you are wishing for a blissful detoxification experience that will help you along the way to a healthier happier life.

A deeper and more effective meditation.

Or to explore all dimensions of the true yogic path.

Then you are welcome to join any of our courses or yoga teacher training programs at Mahi Yoga centre