• Let us discuss the six types of kriyas and their benefits:

• Kapalabhati (Stimulating the brain cells by purifying the brain)

• Neti (Upper Nasal Track)

• Trataka (Eye Exercises)

• Nauli (Abdominal muscle and Viscera)

• Dhouti (Cleansing the intestine)

• Vasti (Cleaning of the Rectum)

A pranayam that will not only increase your lung capacity but it will also:

Strengthen your nervous system

Purify your bloodstream

Energize, stimulate, and wake you up Increase your vitality.

This pranayam is called a breath of fire. It is one of the first things I teach my beginning students. I want to teach it to you right now. So please 'Tune In' with ONG NAMO GURU DEV NAMO, OR WHAT YOU HAVE to LEARN WITH THE ROSS STUDY (YOUR OWNN MANTRA)

Let us sit properly like yogis, in Sukhasan, an easy cross-legged pose. If you have become too uncomfortable, try sitting on your heels or sit in a chair, or lie on the floor. The main thing is you are going to BREATHE CONSCIOUSLY, with your spine straight. Interlace your fingers in your lap. Ideally, applying Venus Lock will help you contain the increased energy from the additional prana that you are going to bring into your body when you do Breath of Fire.

How to do breath of fire

(you will learn everything in the videos)

A breath of fire is simply a rapid and powerful breath through the nose. To learn it, be sure your spine is straight, keep your mouth closed, and breathe rapidly through the nose. Inhalation and exhalation will be about equal. It is not the Hatha Yoga breath Bastrika which emphasizes the exhalation and focuses on the lower stomach muscles. Inhale and lift your chest and hold it still. Exhale and pull in on your navel. Note that the upper abdominals and the diaphragm move as the navel point pulls in. The breath is powered from the navel to the diaphragm. In the beginning, you may find it helpful to think primarily about the exhalation which is synchronized with the pulling in of the navel.

Start slowly as you're learning, until you get used to the rhythm and can easily coordinate the breath with the movement of your navel point. Then pick up speed until you're breathing approximately 120 to 180 times per minute. Listen to the sound of your breath. Imagine that you are making the sound of your breath. Imagine that you are making the soundtrack for a film showing twenty-seven steam engines going uphill. On each exhalation, pull your navel point in toward the back of your spine. On each inhalation, release it. Don't pause in between.

When the Breath of Fire is done correctly, it is an easy breath. The muscles dance in rhythm and you stay energized rather than becoming tired.

Breath of Fire is not hyperventilation. In hyperventilation, the breathing is deep and erratic. The upper chest is not held suspended, and usually, people are chest breathing or they may be reverse breathing, in other words exhaling with the navel pushed out instead of pulled in. Continue Breath of Rire, breathing rapidly and continuously in and out without pausing, for about thirty seconds for your first practice session. Keep your shoulders relaxed, keep your face relaxed. Allow yourself to do Breath of Fire without tension. Keep your spine straight, but not rigid.

Do not inhale or exhale through your mouth to catch your breath. If you should start to feel you are running out of breath and you think you must stop, simply take a few long, slow, deep breaths through your nose until you feel ready to resume. Then try again. Don't pause or hold your breath one either the inhalation or exhalation. Breath of Fire is on the continuous breath. Even though it may seem like a lot of inhalation exhalations, it is considered to be all one breath, from the time you start to the time you stop. That is why it is so marvelously effective in calming your mind.

 

6 Yoga Kriyas for complete purification

 

1. Dhauti Kriya

In Sanskrit, Dhauti means ‘washing’ In this process, water is consumed to total capacity, letting the impurities flush out from the food pipe by vomiting. Dhauti Kriya helps the internal organs to work efficiently and removes excess mucus from the stomach. 

 

Some standard dhauti practices include:

Vamana Dhauti –Consuming a large quantity of lukewarm water and then vomiting it out to expel impurities from the food pipe.

Vastra Dhauti – A  clean muslin cloth soaked in lukewarm water is swallowed and held in the stomach for a few minutes. Then it’s pulled out from the mouth, which brings along impurities from the intestinal tract. Other techniques are Danta dhauti (teeth washing), Jihva Dhauti (tongue scraping), and Karna Dhauti (ear cleansing).

 

 

2. Basti Kriya 

It is a technique that involves replenishing the body internally by cleansing the large intestines. Basti is practiced by sucking in water or air through the anus. Basti means “To Hold” and refers to the urinary bladder. This technique helps treat disorders related to digestion, elimination & flatulence.  Jala Basti is one of the common practices among all types of basti. Jala Basti – Traditionally, this was practiced squatting in a river. “Jala” means water. In this cleansing technique, water is used to clean the bowels. The process involves taking a tub of water until the navel and sitting over it in Utkatasana.

 

Lean forward resting the hands on the knees.

Suck the water via the anus into the large intestines.

Exhale & perform Uddiyana bandha & Nauli kriya (abdominal cleanse) to create a vacuum-like suction. It draws the water into the lower abdomen & contracts the abdominal muscles.

Stand up, holding the water inside the bowel for between 5 and 30 minutes.

Exhale & expel the water through the anus. 

The above steps complete one full round. You can repeat it until the bowels are completely cleansed.

 

 

3. Neti Kriya

Purifies nasal cavities from accumulated impurities. It is very important to clear the nasal cavities as it is the pathway to ‘Prana’ or vital energy. This kriya is done using a clean neti pot.

Neti is of 2 types – 

 

a. Jala Neti – Jala (water) is used as a cleaning tool to remove the impurities from the nostrils. Using the neti pot, water is poured in through one nostril & then, under the effect of gravity, it is expelled out through the other nostril. Water that comes out from other nostrils removes impurities from nasal pathways.

b. Sutra Neti – In this neti, a rubber thread (sutra) is used to massage the nasal pathways to open any blockages in the nostrils.

 

4. Trataka Kriya 

Trataka Kriya is one of the easiest & effective eye-cleansing techniques that involve steady & continuous gazing at any external or internal unmoving point. An illuminated candle at eye level works best. 

Consistent and correct practice increases concentration power and purifies the mind from fluctuating thought patterns.

 

Internal Trataka is when the focus is rested on the Third eye (located between eyebrows). This helps to awaken the third eye or the 6th chakra – Ajna chakra.

External Trataka is the practice of continuously gazing at an external object over time. E.g., the illuminated candle is at eye level.

 

 5. Nauli Kriya

It is an abdominal cleansing kriya that involves the movement of the lower abdominal muscles to stimulate the digestive fire. 

It is a necessary kriya that maintains movement in all body muscles. Nauli practice provides a massaging effect & purifies the liver, spleen, urinary bladder, pancreas, gall bladder, and intestines. When all these internal organs regularly move, the digestive system and appetite improve. It is done standing with the feet apart & knees bent.

Madhya Nauli – When left and right, both sides & muscles are concentrated at the center 

Vama Nauli – When both ab muscles are aligned to the left side from the center wall.

Dakshina Nauli – When both ab muscles are aligned to the right side from the center wall.

 

6. Kapalabhati Kriya

It is the last of the six kriyas that work on improving the brain’s functioning. 

Kapalabhati translates to “Skull Shining”. Often referred to as a pranayama technique, it is a cleansing kriya to improve respiratory health, energize the body & keep the mind alert. In Kapalabhati, the abdominal wall rapidly draws in and out in conjunction with breathing. 

The inhale is passive & the exhale is active, unlike the normal breathing technique. This kriya is performed seated in a legged position.