Saucha, or purity, is one of the Niyamas in the Yoga tradition. It invites us to examine the practice of cleansing and the Shat Kriyas or cleansing techniques.

Shat Kriyas:

• Neti (washing the nasal passages)
• Kapalabhati (rapid breathing to remove toxins from the lungs)
• Dauti (cleansing the intestines)
• Trataka (cleansing the eyes)
• Nauli (movements of the abdomen to improve the function of the organs)
• Vasti (cleansing the colon)

Yogic Techniques That Promote Cleansing:

• Fasting (or eating light) to get rid of toxins and purify the body (see Kichari Recipe)
• Postures to purify the body
• Breathing practices to purify the energy
• The practice of silence to purify the mind
• Meditation to purify the mind
• Chanting to purify the heart
• Aparigraha (giving and not clinging to things) to purify the heart

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