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November 1st, 2009
Yoga Philosophy:
Teaching of the Month.
Saucha.
by Maureen Rae, RN, E-RYT
No, this is not a tea-pot!
It is a Neti Pot!
Please read on……
It seems particularly appropriate at this time to turn to
alternative medicine to look for ways to keep healthy. For
many centuries, yogis have practiced rituals for cleansing
the body….(the yogic practice of Saucha….purity.)
Some of these practices are rather far-fetched (!), but here’s
one that is extremely practical. Read on…
Nasal irrigation or nasal lavage is the personal hygiene
practice in which the nasal cavity is washed to flush out
excess mucus and debris from the nose and sinuses. It has
been practiced in India for centuries as one of the disciplines
of yoga. Clinical testing has shown that this practice is
safe and beneficial with no significant side effects….and
has been actively promoted by Oprah Winfrey! Nasal irrigation
in a wider sense can also refer to the use of saline nasal
spray or nebulizers to moisten the mucus membranes.
The simplest technique is to snort water from cupped hands.
Spraying the solution into the nostrils is more convenient,
but also less effective. The most effective methods ensure
that the liquid enters through one nostril and then either
runs out of the other nostril or goes through the nasal cavity
to the back of the throat from where it may be spat out. The
necessary pressure comes from gravity, from squeezing a plastic
bottle or a syringe, or from an electrical pump. Warm salt
water is commonly used, often with sodium bicarbonate as a
buffering agent. The water and additives serve to flush the
sinus regions and helps to displace bacteria.
Bacteria love to hang out in dark, damp places, and what better
place than the sinuses?! Especially now, during this active
flu season, why not give a Neti Pot a try? The first time
you use it, you will feel like you are under water….but
as one new user said just the other day…”Wow! You
would be surprised at what is up there!”
Most Drug stores carry the Neti Pot! They usually come with
the prepackaged packets of mix. For an online demo, please
go to:
http://www.5min.com/Video/Learn-about-Neti-Pot-114223554
Saucha is purity that operates on many levels. We aspire
to cleanliness for our bodies by washing ourselves, maintaining
clean and orderly homes, eating healthy food and drinking
clean water. We aspire to cleanliness in our minds and speech
by not polluting our minds or speech with negativity or grasping
after emotionally and physically charged obsessions. In other
words, we find a balance that gives us a way to feel ourselves
as clean and clear. As are the other yamas and niyamas, saucha
is a pre-condition for experiencing the fullness of yoga and
attaining enlightenment.
As always, we welcome your comments and stories. Sharing your
experiences can often go a long way to helping others to ‘see.’
Please feel free to email us at info@mraesyogastudio.com
Click here to read
Maureen's previous articles
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