
Why Nasal Cleansing is Essential to a Yogi's Daily Routine || Neti Pot Tutorial
For thousands of years, Ayurveda and Yoga have promoted the practice of Jala Neti, the cleansing of the nasal passage as part of spiritual lifestyle. We are constantly taking in all types of dust, dirt, pollutants, bacteria, pollen and chemicals through the air we breathe. This causes a buildup of toxins throughout the nasal passage which can impact our breathing, cause congestion and overall lower our energy. Through the regular cleansing and detoxification of the sinuses using a neti pot, one can radically improve overall health, mental clarity and emotional stability.
The nasal passage is the doorway to the mind, and thus regular cleansing brings mental clarity. Ancient wisdom teaches that long and deep breathing not only improves health but increases longevity. Deep breathing with clear passages helps balance the prana, the vital life force, which brings harmony to the body and mind as a whole. When we breathe, oxygen works as a delivery mechanism, distributing prana throughout the body, enlivening the mind, internal organs, senses and muscles. Toxification of the breathing channels disrupts the healthy movement of oxygen and prana, leading to tiredness, lethargy, and affects the neurological system, mood and mental clarity.
A scriptural reference found in the Gheranda Samhita illuminates the power of nasal cleansing:
"By practicing the Neti-Kriya, ... It destroys the disorders of phlegm and produces clairvoyance or clear sight. The Neti is the cleaner of the brain and giver of divine sight. It soons destroys all the fill of the cervical and scapular regions."
Benefits of the practice of Jala Neti include:
- support of overall respiratory health
- removes dust, pollen, irritants, toxins
- rinses away excess mucus
- relieves nasal dryness
- keeps lining of the sinuses healthy
- improves hearing and sight
- increases oxygen/prana flow to the brain and pineal gland or anja chakra
You can buy our neti pot here!
The use of copper as the material for the neti pot, a small vessel used to pour water through the nasal passage, keeps the water antibacterial, antibiotic and antioxidant rich. Salt is added into the water to aid its cleansing and decongesting effects. The practice of Jala Neti is slowly pouring purified salt water through one nostril and letting it drip out of the other.
Instructions for doing Jala Neti:
- Fill the neti pot with purified, room temperature water
- Mix in 1/4 teaspoon salt (important to use high quality sea salt or himalayan pink salt)
- Place neti pot up to nostril sealing it completely
- Tilt head to opposite side at 45 degrees over sink
- Make sure to begin breathing through mouth
- Slowly allow water to drain through other nostril
- Repeat for other nostril :)
Adding this ancient lifestyle practice to your morning routine is a practical and easy way to ensure high energy, clarity and a stable mood throughout the day. Keeping the nasal passages clean and allowing the proper movement of prana brings the deepest connection between body, mind and soul.