Shatkarma

“Six actions” of purification according to the Hatha Yoga Pradipika. Essential prerequisite for advanced pranayama.

The six techniques are:

• Neti — nasal cleansing
• Dhauti — digestive tract cleansing
• Nauli — abdominal massage
• Basti — intestinal cleansing
• Kapalbhati — cranial purifying breath
• Trataka — eye purification / candle gazing

These practices remove impurities from the physical body, preparing it for subtler energetic techniques.