Simple Yogic Cleaning Practices for Everyday Life

3 days ago
4 min read

There are mornings when we wake up and something just feels… off.

Not necessarily sick, not necessarily exhausted but a little heavy. The mind feels foggy, the breath shallow, and the body slow to wake up. In modern life we usually try to fix this quickly. A cup of coffee. A cold shower. A glance at our phones before our feet even touch the floor.

But the yogis had a very different approach. ------ They believed that before we begin our day and before we begin deeper yogic practices the body should first be cleansed and prepared. In the ancient yogic text Hatha Yoga Pradipika, this preparation is described through Shatkarma, the six cleansing techniques of Hatha Yoga.

While some of these practices can be quite advanced, their underlying purpose is beautifully simple:

remove what is stagnant so energy can flow freely again.

What are Shatkarmas?

The word Shatkarma comes from Sanskrit: shat meaning six and karma meaning action.

Together they refer to the six purification practices described in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika:

• Neti – cleansing of the nasal passages

• Dhauti – cleansing of the digestive tract

• Nauli – abdominal churning that massages internal organs

• Basti – yogic cleansing of the colon

• Kapalabhati – an energizing breathing technique

• Trataka – focused gazing to purify and stabilize the mind

The yogis observed that when the body accumulates impurities — from food, environment, or lifestyle — the flow of prana, our life force energy, becomes disturbed.

When prana cannot move freely, we may experience it in many familiar ways: sluggish digestion, cloudy thinking, tension in the body, or difficulty concentrating during meditation.

Instead of forcing the mind to focus or pushing the body harder, the yogic approach is more compassionate.

First, clear the pathways.------ This is why cleansing practices were considered a foundation for deeper yoga practices like pranayama and meditation.

Gentle Morning Kriya Rituals

At Earth Yoga Village, these ancient ideas are integrated into a simple and grounding morning routine that our 200h Hatha and Vinyasa students quickly grow to appreciate.

It usually starts with something very simple:

A glass of lukewarm water

After a night of sleep the body is naturally dehydrated. Warm water gently stimulates digestion, encourages elimination, and helps the body begin its natural cleansing process.

Oil pulling

A spoonful of oil is gently swished around the mouth for several minutes before being spit out. Traditionally this practice is believed to draw out toxins, support gum health, and reduce bacteria in the mouth.

Tongue scraping

During the night the body releases toxins through the digestive system, which often appear as a thin coating on the tongue. Removing this layer not only supports oral hygiene but is also believed in yogic and Ayurvedic traditions to stimulate the digestive organs.

Afterwards students brush their teeth using a our homemade non-toxic toothpaste prepared here at Earth Yoga Village.

Made from natural ingredients, it reflects the philosophy of caring for the body with simple, mindful choices — avoiding unnecessary chemicals and supporting a more natural way of living.

Even if someone arrives skeptical, many leave surprised by how fresh and clean it makes the mouth feel.

These small steps might seem simple, but together they shift the way the morning begins — from rushing into the day to arriving in it slowly and consciously.

We see the importance of sharing these simple techniques not only with our students, but also with guests joining us for a Yoga Holiday or retreat.

Awakening the Digestive Fire

After the cleansing rituals, the body begins to wake up through light stretches and gentle movements.

These are not meant to replace a full yoga class, but rather to stimulate circulation and activate the digestive organs through soft twists, spinal movements, and side stretches.

In yogic philosophy this process is closely connected to agni, the digestive fire.

Agni is responsible not only for digesting food but also for processing emotions, experiences, and information. When agni is strong we tend to feel energized, clear, and balanced.

When it is weak, we may experience heaviness, fatigue, or mental fog.

By combining warm water, cleansing rituals, and gentle movement, the body gradually awakens and prepares itself for deeper practices like asana, pranayama, and meditation.

Cleansing Through Breath

Two of the kriya practices that students remember most clearly from their time at Earth Yoga Village are Neti and Kapalabhati.

Neti

Involves cleansing the nasal passages using a small pot filled with warm saline water. The water gently flows through the nostrils, clearing dust, mucus, and environmental impurities.

For many people trying Neti for the first time, the result is immediate: clearer breathing and a sense of openness in the head and sinuses.

This practice prepares the body for pranayama, allowing the breath to move more freely.

Kapalabhati

Following Neti, students may practice Kapalabhati, often translated as “skull shining breath.”

This technique involves rhythmic, active exhalations powered by the abdominal muscles while the inhalation happens naturally. Kapalabhati energizes the body, stimulates the lungs, and increases oxygenation.

Energetically it is believed to cleanse the nadis, the subtle channels through which prana flows.

Many students notice that after practicing Kapalabhati, their mind feels brighter, clearer, and more focused — making meditation and asana practice feel more accessible.

Ancient Wisdom for Modern Life

Small rituals that reconnect us with the body before the world begins asking for our attention.

At Earth Yoga Village, these ancient traditions are woven naturally into daily life. Whether someone joins a Yoga certificate Training or visits for a Yoga wellness Retreat, they experience how these practices bring clarity, lightness, and presence.

For many people, these morning kriyas become one of the most valuable things they take home from their time here.

Because long after the classes end and the training is complete, these small rituals remain.

Quiet reminders that yoga does not begin on the mat.