The Shatkarmas consists of six techniques. They can make the body clean and strong, free of diseases, remove toxins and improve concentration. It can also ...SkiptocontentTheShatkarmaorthesixpurificationtechniquesinHathaYogaaredesignedtomakethebodystrongandhealthy.‘Shat’meanssixand‘Karma’heremeansamethodortechnique.Shatkarmasareconsideredpreparatorystepstowardshigherpracticesofpranayamaandmeditation.TheancientRishisrecognizedtheimportanceofahealthybodyforallactivities,whetherworldlyorspiritual.HathaYoga,asexplainedinthetext‘HathaYogaPradeepika’,isaimedatmakingthebodyandmindfitforhigherpracticesofRajaYoga.TheShatkarmasconsistsofsixtechniques.Theycanmakethebodycleanandstrong,freeofdiseases,removetoxinsandimproveconcentration.Itcanalsoimprovetheflowofpranaintotheorgansandthepranicmeridiansornadis.Thesixtechniquesare–Dhauti,Bhasti,Neti,Trataka,NauliandKapalabhati.Allthesetechniquesshouldbelearnedfromanexperiencedteacher.Letusdiscussitbrieflyonebyone.Dhauti–Dhautiisthepracticeofcleaningthestomach.Itisdoneonanemptystomachintheearlymorning.Itisamethodofremovingundigestedparticlesoffoodfromthepreviousday’smeal,whichcontinuetosticktothestomachliningandcauseproblemswithdigestion.Thepractitionerdrinksabout1–1½litersofwarmsalinewater(roughlyonetablespoonofsalttobeaddedto1literofwater).Thenhevomitsthewholewaterout.Tovomit,thebestpositionistobendoverandputtwofingersattherootofthetongue.Bystimulatingtherootofthetongue,thevomitingrefluxisinduced,whichthrowsthesaltwateroutofthestomachalongwiththeimpurities.Continuetillallthewaterisremoved.ThereisanotherpracticecalledVastraDhauti.Herea30feetlongcottonclothisfirstdippedinsalinewaterandthenswallowedcarefully.Thenitispulledoutslowly,therebycleaningtheinnerliningsofthestomachandfoodpipe.Thishastobelearnedunderanexpert.Bhasti–Bhastiisthecleaningofthebowels.Inthispractice,traditionallywaterisdrawninfromtheanusintothecolonbycontactingtheabdominalmuscles.Arubbertubecanalsobeusedtoaidtheprocess.Thenthewateristhrownoutoftheanus,thuscleaningthe