The six purifications taught in the
Hatha Yoga Pradipika, and repeated in the
Gheranda Samhita, are: •
Netī, a nasal wash. This is the practice of using a
neti pot to cleanse the
nasal passages. A basic neti wash consists of purified water and non-iodized salt, to create a gentle
saline solution. •
Dhautī, the cleansing of the whole digestive tract. •
Naulī, a self-administered abdominal massage, using only the muscles of the abdominal wall. The practitioner stands with the feet about hip width apart, hands on knees, and body at about a 45-degree angle. The core is rotated internally by moving the
abdominal muscles alternately in a clockwise, then in a counterclockwise direction. •
Basti, a colonic irrigation. •
Kapālabhātī, a skull polishing, and is a
pranayama (breathing) practice intended to energize and balance the nadis, and the chakras. Specifically, it is a sharp, short outbreath, followed by a relaxation of the core that allows the body to inhale on its own. •
Trāṭaka, gazing at a fixed point such as a black spot or a candle flame. The two additional purifications in the
Hatha Ratnavali are: • Cakri, the dilation of the anus, using a finger moved about in the rectum. • Gajakarani (present but described differently in the
Hatha Yoga Pradipika), holding sweetened water and the breath in the oesophagus, followed by expulsion of its contents. ==References==