How to Practice Shankha Prakshalan
>> Monday, May 09, 2011 –
Detoxify
Shankha Prakshalan is a simple practice within yoga, which is practiced for detoxification. Although there are many yogic poses which can help in detoxification of the body, this technique is specifically designed for detoxification of the body. There are many benefits for those who practice shankha prakshalan, and some of those are mentioned in Benefits of Shankha Prakshalan.
Importance of Detoxification
When we think about detoxification, what usually comes to the mind is cleaning our bodies. However detoxification has a deeper meaning. At the superficial level, detoxification definitely means getting rid of the toxins from our bodies. Cleaning the body of these toxins helps in keeping the body healthy and helping us to lead a great life. When we detoxify using Shankha Prakshalan, it also cleans up the negative energies in form of hidden emotions in the muscles & nerves in our body. Apart from these this practice also helps clean the mind of the impurities of thoughts and makes it calm down.
If you are unable to understand how our emotions can be stored in the muscles, imagine how you always react the same way to the same impulse. For example if you do not like a person, you would feel and behave in a certain way when you see that person. If you are observant enough, you would be able to notice how you feel in the major muscles of the body or face and how this feel remains the same every time you see that person. Similarly when you like or love a person, that time also muscles and nerves react in a certain way though the feeling might be different.
As you can see the emotions are stored in our entire body; though it is a different matter whether we observe it or not. Some of these emotions are not good for us, and when we practice the cleansing techniques of yoga, our bodies are able to get rid of these emotional toxins also. One of the major reasons people practice yoga is when we use, move and control the muscles in a particular way when within a pose, it helps in cleansing of the emotional toxins from the muscles; and this is one of the reasons I love yoga.
Shanka Prakshalan
Shankha means counch (Sea Shell) in Sanskrit. The stomach resembles the Shankha and this practice washes the entire stomach and digestive system.
Preparation
Since the purpose is to clean the body, we should prepare little in advance. In the previous evening have Khichdi which is made from Moong seeds and Rice. It is easy to prepare. Take equal quantities or moong can be little more in proportion. Boil the moong and rice together adding salt and turmeric and one small tomato. Take some ghee and mix in the khidi. Have this in the night. Try to have it early in the evening so that the body has the time to digest and process the food and you are ready the next morning.
Shanka Prakshalan Practice
The practice consists of five easy poses practiced in sequence and consuming around two to three liters of water.
In the morning go through the morning cleaning routine including visit to toilet.
Now warm around 2 liters of water. You can add little salt and lemon juice.Drink two glasses of warm water and practice the following sequence -
1. Tadasana –Three times. Try to pull the body up as much as possible.
2. Triyak Tadasana - Three times on each side.
3. Kati Chakrasana – Three times on each side.
4. Triyak Bhujangasana – Three times on each side
5. Udarakarshana – Sitting on your haunches and try to twist your body to each side one by one. Twist three times on each side.
The above consists of one round. Practice for two rounds.
Now again have two glasses of warm water. If you feel the urge to go to toilet you should relieve yourself.
Repeat the above sequence - Practice two rounds, and again have two glasses of water. When you go to the toilet initially the feces will be more solid in nature, however with more rounds of practice and consuming more water, stool will become more watery and in the end you will just eliminate water. Stop at this time.
If you cannot do for so many times, and just go through 3 to 4 rounds of practice and water consumption. Even 3 to 4 rounds of practice will make you sweat a lot and also wash away most of the impurities from the body. When full round is practice it will wash away very old dirt and feces which are attached to the intestines also.
After the practice wipe your body with clean cloth and cover the whole body and lie down in a room away from wind and sun. After resting for half an hour to one hour, get up and take bath. Eat very light food like khichdi mixed with lot of ghee as this will grease your intestines.
This practice should ideally be done under the guidance of an expert, however if you want you can safely practice 3 to 4 round at home if you have reasonable health condition.
Benefits of Shankha Prakshalan
The benefits of this practice are already mentioned in the previous article. However some other benefits include
1. Radiance in the face. Eczema and other skin problems are cured. This happens since many skin problems originate due to the toxins in our bodies which are flushed out with stool and sweat.
2. Entire digestive system gets new life hence constipation and acidity problems vanish.
3. Many problems like Arthritis and migraine, sinus problems come under control.
4. Back muscles become more flexible and less prone to injury.
5. The person who practices this will become energetic and lose lethargy.
6. The mind becomes calmer.
7. You would become more conscious about the food and would be able to avoid foods which are bad for your health.
Practice the smaller version (3 to 4 rounds) once in 45 days. You can also practice the full sequence once to 3 to 4 months.
Practice of shankha prakshalana cleanses the entire body and keeps you healthy and beautiful. You become more aware of the way the body reacts to the food. You also gain the power to clean up the body and feel fresh again when you feel lethargic and drained out for many days.
Importance of Detoxification
When we think about detoxification, what usually comes to the mind is cleaning our bodies. However detoxification has a deeper meaning. At the superficial level, detoxification definitely means getting rid of the toxins from our bodies. Cleaning the body of these toxins helps in keeping the body healthy and helping us to lead a great life. When we detoxify using Shankha Prakshalan, it also cleans up the negative energies in form of hidden emotions in the muscles & nerves in our body. Apart from these this practice also helps clean the mind of the impurities of thoughts and makes it calm down.
If you are unable to understand how our emotions can be stored in the muscles, imagine how you always react the same way to the same impulse. For example if you do not like a person, you would feel and behave in a certain way when you see that person. If you are observant enough, you would be able to notice how you feel in the major muscles of the body or face and how this feel remains the same every time you see that person. Similarly when you like or love a person, that time also muscles and nerves react in a certain way though the feeling might be different.
As you can see the emotions are stored in our entire body; though it is a different matter whether we observe it or not. Some of these emotions are not good for us, and when we practice the cleansing techniques of yoga, our bodies are able to get rid of these emotional toxins also. One of the major reasons people practice yoga is when we use, move and control the muscles in a particular way when within a pose, it helps in cleansing of the emotional toxins from the muscles; and this is one of the reasons I love yoga.
Shanka Prakshalan
Shankha means counch (Sea Shell) in Sanskrit. The stomach resembles the Shankha and this practice washes the entire stomach and digestive system.
Preparation
Since the purpose is to clean the body, we should prepare little in advance. In the previous evening have Khichdi which is made from Moong seeds and Rice. It is easy to prepare. Take equal quantities or moong can be little more in proportion. Boil the moong and rice together adding salt and turmeric and one small tomato. Take some ghee and mix in the khidi. Have this in the night. Try to have it early in the evening so that the body has the time to digest and process the food and you are ready the next morning.
Shanka Prakshalan Practice
The practice consists of five easy poses practiced in sequence and consuming around two to three liters of water.
In the morning go through the morning cleaning routine including visit to toilet.
Now warm around 2 liters of water. You can add little salt and lemon juice.Drink two glasses of warm water and practice the following sequence -
1. Tadasana –Three times. Try to pull the body up as much as possible.
2. Triyak Tadasana - Three times on each side.
3. Kati Chakrasana – Three times on each side.
4. Triyak Bhujangasana – Three times on each side
5. Udarakarshana – Sitting on your haunches and try to twist your body to each side one by one. Twist three times on each side.
The above consists of one round. Practice for two rounds.
Now again have two glasses of warm water. If you feel the urge to go to toilet you should relieve yourself.
Repeat the above sequence - Practice two rounds, and again have two glasses of water. When you go to the toilet initially the feces will be more solid in nature, however with more rounds of practice and consuming more water, stool will become more watery and in the end you will just eliminate water. Stop at this time.
If you cannot do for so many times, and just go through 3 to 4 rounds of practice and water consumption. Even 3 to 4 rounds of practice will make you sweat a lot and also wash away most of the impurities from the body. When full round is practice it will wash away very old dirt and feces which are attached to the intestines also.
After the practice wipe your body with clean cloth and cover the whole body and lie down in a room away from wind and sun. After resting for half an hour to one hour, get up and take bath. Eat very light food like khichdi mixed with lot of ghee as this will grease your intestines.
This practice should ideally be done under the guidance of an expert, however if you want you can safely practice 3 to 4 round at home if you have reasonable health condition.
Benefits of Shankha Prakshalan
The benefits of this practice are already mentioned in the previous article. However some other benefits include
1. Radiance in the face. Eczema and other skin problems are cured. This happens since many skin problems originate due to the toxins in our bodies which are flushed out with stool and sweat.
2. Entire digestive system gets new life hence constipation and acidity problems vanish.
3. Many problems like Arthritis and migraine, sinus problems come under control.
4. Back muscles become more flexible and less prone to injury.
5. The person who practices this will become energetic and lose lethargy.
6. The mind becomes calmer.
7. You would become more conscious about the food and would be able to avoid foods which are bad for your health.
Practice the smaller version (3 to 4 rounds) once in 45 days. You can also practice the full sequence once to 3 to 4 months.
Practice of shankha prakshalana cleanses the entire body and keeps you healthy and beautiful. You become more aware of the way the body reacts to the food. You also gain the power to clean up the body and feel fresh again when you feel lethargic and drained out for many days.
