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Jala Neti refers to cleansing the nasal passages with water and has been used for thousands of years. It is a process of cleaning the nasal passage with salt water, and is essential in allowing free breathing as required in many of the yoga asanas, mudras and pranayamas.
TECHNIQUE
Sit in Kaag Asana, or in standing position, bending the shoulders and head forwards. The standing position is most suitable for doing Jala Neti into a sink or wash basin, while Kaag Asana, can be done in a garden or in a shower.
Ideally, a Jala Neti pot should be used.
First, make the saline solution dilute a pinch of non-iodized salt in a glass of filtered body temperature water. Pour the saline water into the Jala Neti pot.
Hold the bottom of the pot with one hand. Gently insert the end of the nozzle into the end of the left nostril , if this is blocked into then in right nostril.
There should be no force involved, but the nozzle should press firmly against the side of the one nostril so that no water leakage occurs.
Progressively tilt your head to the right side while simultaneously raising the Jala Neti pot in such a way that water runs into the left nostril.
Make sure that you keep your mouth wide open so that you can breathe.
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If the pot is in the correct position, if your head is tilted at a suitable angle and if there is a tight fit between the nozzle and the sides of the nose, then the water should flow in through one nostril and out through the other nostril.
It doesn't matter if water flows into your mouth or throat, but if the practice is performed correctly with relaxation this should not happen.
Allow the water to flow through the nostrils for 10 to 20 seconds.
Then remove the Jala Neti pot and remove the water and impurities from your nose by closing the left nostril and breathing quickly and forcibly through the other nostril. Don't blow so hard, however, that you damage your nose and cause bleeding.
Now close the right nostril and blow forcibly through the left nostril.
Now pour water into the right nostril for about 20 seconds and repeat the same process.
Again pour water into each of the nostrils in turn, repeating the same technique just described.
After completing this practice the nostrils must be dried and any further impurities removed.
Now stand erect. Bend forwards so that the trunk assumes a horizontal position. Close one nostril by pressing the side of the nose with the thumb. Breathe in and out vigorously up to 10 times in quick succession.
The exhalation should be especially emphasized to expel the moisture from the nostrils.
Repeat the same procedure with the other nostril closed. Then repeat the same procedure with both nostrils open. This simple practice should remove most of the moisture from the nose.
If moisture remains the vigorous breathing should be repeated until the nose is perfectly dry.
Not including preparation of the water, the whole process should take less than five minutes.
Jala Neti is ideally practiced early in the morning before breakfast. However, if necessary, it can be practiced at other times of the day, excepting straight after meals.
Jala Neti once a day is sufficient, though if one has nasal catarrh, a cold or any other specific ailment, it may be practiced more times.
People who suffer from chronic bleeding of the nose should not do Jala Neti or any other Neti.
Make sure that the water is not too hot when you introduce it into the nostrils.
Do not breathe in and out too deeply when removing the moisture from the nose.
Also, if the sinuses are blocked with mucus, be careful not to blow your nose hard.
Ensure that the salt fully dissolves in the water before pouring it into your nose.
Be careful to hold the head correctly and not to hold the Neti pot too low.
In order for the water to flow into one nostril and out the other, the water level in the pot must be higher than the region at the back of the nose, where the two nostrils merge with each other. If you tilt your head too much then the water will go down your throat instead of the other nostril.
If you tilt the pot too much the water will merely overflow out of the pot. You must adjust the position of your head and the pot so that they are at correct levels.
A burning sensation indicates that too much salt was used, or the water is too cold or too hot.
BENEFITS
A simple yet very powerful technique, Jala Neti works wonders for chronic sinusitis, and allergies.
It has a remarkable effect on upper respiratory tract infections dislodging and washing out allergens, dust, and other pollutants. You will be surprised at how easy it is to perform.
