Using Yoga for Purifying Mind, Body and Spirit
Purification (shaucha) is a central aim of all the yogic practices, and
is the first principle of self-discipline (niyama) in Patanjali’s
eight-limbed approach. The yogis have discovered that impurities in
our internal body adversely affect our state of mind, and prevent the
attainment of real wisdom and spiritual liberation. Through the yogic
practices of asana, pranayama, tapas and shatkarma, the body and the
mind become cleansed and our spiritual development is accelerated.
The physical postures of yoga purify the body through movements that
increase and improve the flow of blood, oxygen and prana (life force
energy) in the tissues, muscles and organs. The yoga poses squeeze and
massage the muscles and organs to move out old stagnant blood and bring
in fresh blood full of nutrients and oxygen. In the more dynamic
postures, heat is created and sweat is produced to facilitate the
release toxins through the pores of the skin.
The breathing techniques of pranayama purify the mind and body through
the balance and cultivation of energy throughout the whole body.
Different pranayamas have different actions on the body and thus
different purifying effects. Kapalabhati (breath of fire) is warming
and energizing, purifying the body through the creation of heat and the
movement of energy. Nadi Sodhana (alternate nostril breath) is calming
and cleansing, purifying the body through reducing stress and removing
blockages in the nadis (energy channels).
The intensive self-discipline of Tapas purifies the mind and spirit
through the “burning up” of the desires in our mind. Basically, Tapas
is engaging the will to do some action you do not want to do or not
doing some action you want to do. This creates a conflict between our
will and the desire of our mind producing an internal “fire” which
illuminates and burns up our mental and physical impurities.
The six cleansing practices of shatkarma purify the body by physically
removing excesses of mucus or phlegm. These are primarily esoteric
practices that must be learned and performed with the supervision of a
qualified teacher. The shatkarmas are described as six groups of yogic
cleansing techniques: Neti: nasal cleaning and irrigation, Dhauti:
cleansing of the digestive tract, Nauli: abdominal massage, Basti:
colon cleaning, Kapalbhati: purification and vitalization of the brain,
and Trataka: blinkless gazing. The goal of these practices is to purge
out excesses in order to bring the three doshas (physical
constitutions) into balance. If the doshas are already in balance,
then it is recommended to not practice these intense cleansing
practices. There are easier, gentler and more accessible ways of
balancing the doshas through the healing techniques of Ayurveda that
can be utilized as an alternative of the shatkarmas.
When the mind, body and spirit have been purified through the various
practices of yoga, the overall result is an increase in the flow of
prana through the whole body, improving our capacity to work, think,
digest, taste, feel, and experience life. And not only do these
practices make us feel more alive, they also foster our spiritual
development, inner awareness and equanimity.
|
|
