Shat Karmas - frightfully personal but who wants to share their experiences?

I know that, traditionally, we keep this very private but…

Yes, I am talking about:

  1. Dhauti, 2. Basti, 3. Neti, 4. Trataka, 5. Nauli and 6. Kapalabhati.

http://www.indiadivine.org/articles/101/1/Shat-Karmas-The-Six-Purificatory-Processes/Page1.html

In that order!

Personally, I only perform basti (with the shower head and the water at body temperature) and neti with any regularity. I sometimes do trataka, and uddiyana (not nauli yet) and kapalabhati. I would love to try dhauti - it would be so ‘me’. :smiley:

Ok, do you think that I am nuts now? :lol:

Does anyone want to share their experiences?

:stuck_out_tongue:

I found that a moderate diet and regular lifestyle makes some of these somewhat redundant.

I did dhauti when it was tought to me, I performed it without fault, but I am not practicing it. I mean, rather avoid the situations when it might become necessary.

I also did shank prakshalana when I learnt about it, and performed it a few times since than … But I would advise care as these drastically adress the digestive system.

Neti, allright, basti probably also not that dangerous, if not performed too often, as the colon has it’s natural bacteria necessary of post-dygesting the fiber from foods, where important vitamins (K) and fats are produced and reabsorbed. So one would not want to interfere too often. If you are fully clean (both mind, and body), and healthy, there is no need. But because these are quite hard to accomplish, somtimes these practices might become necessary.

There is no need to be shy about these things, the human body is divine and great in all its aspects and functions. What is less divine is what we do with it, out of ignorance.

Uddhiyana I see coupled with pranayama, with awarness directed to pranic processes. Maybe nauli is more forgiving in this aspect.
I think it is extremly important to maintain balance in these, and not perform them as means of achieveing something, rather one should arrive into a state where these naturally flow out of the wisdom of the vital body.

I practice jala neti daily, sutra neti on occasion (I am getting more comfortable with it but I have long nails and I scratch my throat sometimes, so it gives me the creepy jeepies sometimes when I try), kapalabhati on a regular basis and uddiyana occasionally when I remember that it exists.

I have practiced vamana dhauti under the guidance and support of my teachers many times, and I understand now that it is a great and beneficial tool. I would like to start practicing in the comfort of my own home and I think that as soon as I do that I will be able to feel really comfortable at it. As much as I appreciate the presence of my teachers to answer questions and concerns, vomiting up saltwater in front of anyone is kind of a personal experience and I am now grateful for the chance to experience the effects alone somewhere near a real toilet and not a trench.

I’ve practiced trataka under guidance as well but do not, as of yet, have the discipline to practice on my own. I feel like maybe I should study it and understand it more completely - I haven’t been convinced of its effects and haven’t had a lot of training in it.

I do not practice basti, I do not think i will ever get there. I suppose if I immersed myself in yogic studies for several years, some teacher out there might be able to cajole me with bribery, blackmail, or threat to try it.
Good luck with that.

Sutra neti looks wonderful. I had not heard of that before.

I have practiced vamana dhauti under the guidance and support of my teachers many times, and I understand now that it is a great and beneficial tool. I would like to start practicing in the comfort of my own home and I think that as soon as I do that I will be able to feel really comfortable at it. As much as I appreciate the presence of my teachers to answer questions and concerns, vomiting up saltwater in front of anyone is kind of a personal experience and I am now grateful for the chance to experience the effects alone somewhere near a real toilet and not a trench.

I love vamana dhauti too (afterwards) but it is a bit rough.

I’ve practiced trataka under guidance as well but do not, as of yet, have the discipline to practice on my own. I feel like maybe I should study it and understand it more completely - I haven’t been convinced of its effects and haven’t had a lot of training in it.

It is lovely, but I practise so rarely also. It must become part of one’s routine.

I do not practice basti, I do not think i will ever get there. I suppose if I immersed myself in yogic studies for several years, some teacher out there might be able to cajole me with bribery, blackmail, or threat to try it.
Good luck with that.

For me basti is the easiest, but I just use the shower head and a gentle water flow at body temperature from the shower pressed gently to my lips and then hold it in, sometimes mayurasana do give it a good swill and then squat. This is the modern method, rather than the traditional one which is described in the venerable texts.

I think that basti is very important for me because I am often running on high vata.

I see what you are saying Hubert, but my diet goes from satvik to rajasic from one day to the next! :rolleyes:

The question isn’t so much about the shat karmas but about the purpose for the student in doing them - beyond the rote phrase of “purification”.