Yoga Practice Name
Shankhaprakshalana
Yoga Practice Branch
Ashtang Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga
Yoga Practice Type
Ashtang Yoga Category
Niyama
Hatha Yoga Category
Kriya
Steps and Description
- It is advisable to take a light, semi-liquid meal the night before undertaking this practice.
- Plenty of clean, lukewarm water should be available and also extra hot water in case the temperature of the water falls below body temperature.
- Add 2 teaspoons of salt per litre to the water, so that it tastes mildly salty.
- It is necessary for a special food of good quality white rice and pulse, preferably mung dal, cooked with ghee, clarified butter, to be prepared.
- This preparation is called khicheri. The rice and lentils should be cooked together in water until soft.
- A little haldi, turmeric, may be added, but no salt. Finally, the clarified butter should be liberally mixed in so that the final preparation is semi-liquid.
- It is better that a friend or helper who is not doing the practice prepares the khicheri which is to be eaten after the 45 minute rest period and again later in the day.
- No asana or physical work should be performed before commencing and no food or beverages should be taken. If the bowels are not evacuated prior to the practice it helps stimulate the peristaltic movement.
- Light and comfortable clothing should be worn.
- Drink two glasses of warm salty water as quickly as possible.
- Perform the following five asanas dynamically, eight times each in the correct sequence:-
a) Tadasana
b) Tiryaka tadasana
c) Kati chakrasana
d) Tiryaka bhujangasana
e) Udarakarshanasana.
Do not rest between rounds. - Drink two more glasses of warm salty water and again repeat the five asanas.
- Repeat this process a third time. After the third round, go to the toilet and see if there is any movement in the bowels, if they have not yet been emptied.
- Do not strain. After a few minutes or so, come out, regardless of whether there has been any movement or not; it is not essential at this point.
- Drink two more glasses and repeat the five asanas eight times. Again go to the toilet, but do not use force toproduce a bowel movement.
- Continue drinking the water, performing the asanas and going to the toilet when the pressure builds up.
- Spend as little time in the toilet as possible, a minute or so is enough. The aim is to build up the internal cleansing pressure.
- At first solid stool will be evacuated followed by a mixture of stool and water. As the practice progresses more water and less solid stool will be excreted.
- Eventually cloudy yellow water and, finally, almost clear water will be evacuated.
- Sixteen glasses are generally required before perfectly clean water is evacuated, but it varies from person to person.
- The speed at which one completes the practice should not be compared with that of others. This stage of the practice should be performed in a relaxed way at one's own pace.
Cautions and Limitations
- It is important not to exceed the point beyond which almost clear water is being passed, as the system may start producing bile, indicated by bright yellow water.
- It is better to stop when the water is still slightly cloudy. While resting for 45 minutes after terminating the practice, one should not sleep as a headache or cold may result.
- No water or other fluids should be taken until at least 2 hours after the first special meal.
- Cold liquid will chill the digestive system.
- Drinking or eating anything before the prescribed period will dilute and wash away the new protective layer which is being reproduced by the body on the stomach and intestinal wall.
Contraindications
- People suffering from any medical condition should seek guidance from a qualified yoga teacher before attempting shankhaprakshalana, especially those taking medication.
- This practice should also be avoided during pregnancy.
General Benefits
- Physically, shankhaprakshalana alleviates digestive problems such as indigestion, gas, acidity and constipation.
- It generally tones the liver and other digestive organs and glands. It has been used in the cure of diabetes mellitus, hypoglycaemia, obesity, high blood cholesterol and high lipid levels.
- It strengthens the immune system, alleviating allergies and immunological problems. It helps relieve the symptoms of arthritis and chronic inflammatory diseases.
- Excessive mucus is reduced relieving asthma, chronic colds and sinusitis. It purifies the blood and alleviates skin problems such as pimples, boils and
eczema.
Benefits for Disease
Depression