Bless you gentle friends and a heartfelt hug to new readers, welcome aboard! I pray you are well and thanks for your time in visiting my blog. Today’s post is a short video to show you how to safely use a neti pot to clean your nasal passages as a way to keep your airways clear, improve breathing and reduce mucous and debris blocking the nose.
First of all, to recap…
As part of my emerging Surrender to Love way of caring for myself, my current batch of blog posts are focusing on the 7 core self-care and yoga practices – Breathing exercises, rest and relaxation techniques, exercising, alkalising, taking time-out, healthier choices and embrace life; I use to help build up my health and in the long run help me acheive a common goal to stay healthy, happy and whole.
What Is Neti- Nasal Cleansing?
It occurred to me this morning that one of my key self-care habits is using a neti pot to cleanse my nasal passages before starting my breathing exercises. Neti-nasal cleansing involves you adding a teaspoon of sea salt to a neti pot, tilting your head to one side and pouring the saline solution into one nostril, (through gravity the water pours out through the other nostril), you blow the nostril and repeat on the other side. It’s a wonderful practice and helps to keep your nasal passages and sinus cavities clear.
When Did I First Started To Use A Neti Pot?
On my Sivananda Yoga Teacher Training Course we were taught six kriyas to cleanse and purify our minds and body. One of these kriyas was using a neti pot.
What Are Kriyas?
As you know, traditionally yoga is a system which ancient yogis used to cleanse and prepare their minds and body for meditation. Kriyas, are specific yogic cleansing exercises which help the body remove waste products through the lungs, kidneys, sweat glands and bowels.
As a newbie modern day yogi, I found some of these kriyas we were taught on my Yoga Teacher Training Course gross and didn’t do them, but that’s a story for another day!
There Are Six Kriyas:
The six kriyas yogis practice to cleanse and strengthen the body are:
1. Neti – nasal cleaning
2. Nauli – Abdominal churning
3. Dhauti – Upper digestive tract cleaning
4. Basti – Colon cleansing
5. Kapalabhati – Cleansing of lungs
6. Tratak – Steady gazing
Out of the six kriyas, the only ones I regularly practice are Neti nasal cleansing and the other two kriyas-Kapalabhati and tratak, which I will cover in future posts.
Health Risks From Using Neti Pot
In doing my research for this blog, I came across reports of 2 people dying from using a neti pot. From what I can tell, their deaths were caused by using tap water, therefore I stress the importance of using distilled or previously boiled cooled water, which is what I use.
To Sum Up
Today’s post is a brief detour to share with you how to use a neti bottle as it is one of the self-care cleansing techniques I use to keep my body clean and maintain my health. I go through phrases and sometimes will go for days without using my neti pot. However, what happens, especially in winter, when we have the heating on, I notice my nose feel blocked up and stuffy, which always prompts me to use my neti pot the following morning.
Your Thoughts And Comments
Have you used a neti pot? if so, what did it feel like? How did you feel after using it? If you are a regular neti-pot user, I’d love you to share your experiences because that will help encourage other readers who may be a bit apprehensive in trying this self-care technique; simply write your thoughts in the comment box below. Thank you.
And if you are interested in discovering more yogic ways to care for your body, check out my ebook A Woman’s Book Of Yoga, a Guide To Relax And Nourish Your Body And Soul, over here on my website. Click here to find out more about this easy to read book of easy yoga exercises and natural beauty tips to help you look younger and feel fitter and healthier. Thank you.
Till next time, take extra special care of you and may your home be filled with peace and mutual understanding.
Hugs and peace
Ntathu
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