Shatkarma: Yogic Cleansing Processes In Kundalini Yoga
Table of Contents
- Kundalini Yoga Explained
- Shatkarma Kriyas Decoded
- 1. Jalneti
- 2. Sutra Neti
- 3. Kunjal Dhauti
- 4. Kapalbhati
- 5. Trataka
- 6. Sahaja Agnisar Dhauti
- Final Takeaway
- Frequently Asked Questions
- What exactly is Shatkarma?
- Why bother cleansing before doing asanas or pranayama?
- What are the six techniques exactly?
- Jalneti vs Sutra Neti — what’s the difference?
- What’s Kunjal Dhauti actually doing?
- Is Kapalbhati a breathing exercise or a Shatkarma?
- How does Trataka work?
- Should beginners try these on their own?
- Where do people usually learn Shatkarma properly?
- Is Shatkarma specific to Kundalini Yoga?
Shatkarma, asanas, pranayama, and much more — yoga is far deeper than most people realise. So, you have probably started looking for Yoga courses, after all the trending social media posts that seem to pop up. Well! You are headed in the right direction. If you have been practising yoga for a long time, then it is probably the right time to formalise your training. And the best way you can do that is by going for a yoga teacher training.
There is Hatha Yoga, Ashtanga, Vinyasa Yoga and Kundalini Yoga, which are the most popular forms, that you can lay your hands on. You can choose the 200 Hour Kundalini Yoga Teacher Training in Rishikesh to give a jumpstart to your career.
However, many of you might question its authenticity and the reasons why you should be going for it, and not Hatha Yoga. It is quite simple. You should ask yourself if you are just looking for outward fitness or internal fitness. If the latter is more important for you, then you have chosen the right yoga form.
Kundalini Yoga Explained
To be exact, Kundalini Yoga is all about your spiritual rebirth. You will be a part of an awakening, wherein all your chakras will be cleansed. The sleeping snake or female shakti lies at the base of the spine. Once your Kundalini is awakened, you will experience a sudden jolt of power that can give you the freedom to experience bliss. As all your channels get cleared, you also become free from all sorts of bodily limitations.
Join the Kundalini Yoga Teacher Training in India at Samadhi Yoga Ashram. You will get the best teachers who will pour all their knowledge out. If you are just starting out, read our A Beginner’s Guide To Kundalini Yoga to understand the basics before diving deeper.
As a part of the course, you will be learning about several aspects of yoga lineage, history, philosophy, anatomy, asanas, pranayama, gaze during the asanas, Shatkarmas, mudras, and bandhas. Meditation is also an important part of the course. You will also be engaged in a lot of mantras chanting while you are pursuing the month-long course in the tranquil foothills of the Himalayas. Most of you probably know about asanas, mudras and bandhas. Some of you might even know Nadi Shodhana, Anulom Vilom, and other breathing techniques. However, it is the Shatkarma kriyas that many are oblivious to. Let us find out more about them, so that your path to awakening becomes clear and hassle-free.
Read More: Benefits of Undertaking Kundalini Yoga Teacher Training
Shatkarma Kriyas Decoded
Shatkarma or Yogic cleansing helps the yogi in the detoxification of the body and balances the mind. This prepares one for further practice of asana, kriyas and pranayama. You will read about the six purification techniques in detail here.
1. Jalneti
It is the first type of Neti that a beginner undertakes. Sutra Neti comes much later. In this type of Neti, water with some salt mixed into it is taken in a Neti pot. Using the pot, you have to pour the water through one nostril and allow it to drain out of the other one. The water that comes out of the other nostril is full of impurities that it might have collected from your nasal passage.
2. Sutra Neti
Sutra Neti is the next one that you should know about. After you have mastered Jalneti, you should try out Sutra Neti. In this type of Neti, you have to take a rubber pipe, or a very thin thread, and insert it through one of the nostrils. The thread will tend to pop out of the throat onto the tongue area. Get hold of the other end of the thread and pull it. Now, you can rub the pipe or thread back and forth, so that it pulls out all the impurities and mucous on the way. Finally, you can pull it out of the nose. Repeat this activity on the other side.
3. Kunjal Dhauti
Also called Vamana Dhauti or Kunjal kriya, this act mainly purifies and cleanses the stomach, intestines, liver, lungs, and food pipe, and can aid you in cleaning your nasal congestion as well. The yogi drinks 1-2 litres of water on an empty stomach, and then bends down from the hip joint to vomit. You can insert two fingers inside the throat to aid you in the process. The Kundalini Yoga Teacher Training in India will help you to master this, so that you can train your own students later. The body has to be pure to facilitate the purification of the mind.
4. Kapalbhati
It is also quite popular as the skull shining posture in yoga. It is also a part of yogic breathing. In this type of breathing technique, you have to inhale fresh air passively, but exhale it in bursts with full force. It is, more importantly, a forced exhalation practice. You can learn about this breathing technique in the 200 Hour Kundalini Yoga Teacher Training in Rishikesh.
5. Trataka
It is another Shatkarma kriya that you can try with the help of a candle. You have to light the candle and keep it burning on a table in front of you. It should be within a distance of 1 m. However, you have to make sure that the candle is at the level of your eyes. As a part of this practice, you have to look with intent at the candle, without blinking your eyelid. After a point in time, tears will come out of your eyes. Moreover, this act will help to purify the eyes by removing the dirt through the flowing tears.
6.Sahaja Agnisar Dhauti
This is another abdominal purification procedure that helps in blood circulation. You will be cleansing the organs of the body with the application of fiery heat. It is one of the vitalising activities that you can practice in Yoga. Many yogis also activate their digestive fire through the practice of this kriya.
Now, you can understand how comprehensive the syllabus of Kundalini Yoga is. Furthermore, you have to deepen your knowledge in this yoga form, and only then can you teach your students. The best Kundalini yoga training awaits you at Samadhi Yoga Ashram.
Final Takeaway
Yoga is not just about flexible bodies or perfect postures. Shatkarma take you deeper — they work on the inside, clearing out what no longer serves you, physically and mentally.
Once you experience that kind of cleansing, your entire practice shifts. Things start to make more sense. You feel lighter, more focused, more present.
If you are serious about yoga, the 200 Hour Kundalini Yoga Teacher Training at Samadhi Yoga Ashram in Rishikesh is worth considering. Learn directly from experienced teachers in the foothills of the Himalayas, where the environment itself supports your growth. Sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself is simply show up and begin.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is Shatkarma?
Shatkarma means “six actions” or six cleansing techniques from yoga. They’re used to clear out the body physically before moving into deeper practices like asanas and pranayama.
Why bother cleansing before doing asanas or pranayama?
Because a body that’s holding onto waste and blockages doesn’t let energy move well. Clearing things out first just makes everything that comes after- breathing work and postures- more effective.
What are the six techniques exactly?
Jalneti, Sutra Neti, Kunjal Dhauti, Kapalbhati, Trataka, and Sahaja Agnisar Dhauti. Each one focuses on a different area — nose, stomach, eyes — and they’re usually taught in that order.
Jalneti vs Sutra Neti — what’s the difference?
Jalneti is the simpler one. You use a Neti pot to pour warm salted water through one nostril and let it drain from the other. Sutra Neti comes later, once you’ve got Jalneti down — it uses a thin thread or soft catheter instead of water and takes more practice to get comfortable with.
What’s Kunjal Dhauti actually doing?
It’s a way to clean out the stomach. You drink water on an empty stomach, then bring it back up. Sounds intense, and honestly it is at first, but it’s meant to clear the stomach and food pipe of anything sitting in there.
Is Kapalbhati a breathing exercise or a Shatkarma?
Kind of both, which confuses people. It’s counted among the six cleansing techniques, but the method is breath-based: quick, forceful exhales with passive inhales. Some call it the “skull-shining breath” because of how alert it can make you feel afterwards.
How does Trataka work?
You sit and stare at a candle flame without blinking, keeping your gaze steady. Eventually your eyes water; that’s the point. It’s said to clear out the eyes and sharpen focus, but it takes some getting used to.
Should beginners try these on their own?
Not really a good idea, at least not without someone showing you first. A few of these — Kunjal Dhauti especially have a technique to them that’s hard to pick up just from reading or watching a video. Getting it wrong isn’t dangerous exactly, but it defeats the purpose.
Where do people usually learn Shatkarma properly?
Most people pick it up through a structured yoga teacher training course, where it sits alongside asana, pranayama, mudras, and the philosophy side of things. A 200-hour Kundalini Yoga TTC is a common place people start.
Is Shatkarma specific to Kundalini Yoga?
No, it actually comes out of the older Hatha Yoga tradition. Kundalini Yoga uses it too, but so do other styles that put weight on internal cleansing before physical practice.
This article is for general information and is not medical advice. If you have a respiratory or heart condition, are pregnant, or are unsure whether these practices suit you, please speak to your doctor before beginning.
