Jal Neti (nasal irrigation for peak performance)

Jal Neti (nasal irrigation for peak performance)
By Tony Colaco
Sydney, Australia

Jal Neti (Saline Nasal Irrigation) for Cleansing, Allergies, Awareness and More:

Winter is just around the corner in Australia. The dreaded flu people suffer from is just around the corner. To help you all I want to explain an Ayurvedic/Yogic Cleansing technique which is excellent for clearing the sinuses and strengthening the subtle channels and membranes in the eyes, ears, nose and throat region. It is called Jal Neti or Nasal Irrigation. We all take our cars for changing the filters and the oils but we never consider cleaning our “own” air filters, put simply, our nostrils.

Although at first Jal Neti might appear gross or “dirty” to do, I can assure you after a few tries, you will wonder why people think it is difficult and avoid doing this great cleansing practice. This is one of the best morning practices you can adopt and it bestows a long list of excellent physical, emotional, mental and spiritual benefits. After about 22 year of daily practice, this morning ritual takes about 4 minutes. And I think it’s the best thing to do and I encourage you to do it. To help you out here is the drill.

Below are the steps (details) for practicing this wonderful cleansing and toning technique. If you have not tried it yet, I strongly suggest you do!

Tools Needed for Jal Neti:

• Neti Pot (available in plastic, ceramic and steel – I use plastic –its light and easy to manage)
• Salt (pure sea salt is preferred)
• Warm Water – definitely not cold and not to hot
• .
• Calms the mind and senses. Promotes peace and tranquility.
How to do Jal Neti:

• The best time for doing Jal Neti is first thing in the morning as part of your morning routine.
• Fill the net pot with warm tap water,
• Add salt to the water. The portions you should use are as follows. 1 level teaspoon of salt for 16 ounces of water (about 1/2 liter of water). This will bring the solution to the right level for the body to accept. You will know if you have put extra salt as you may feel a little uncomfortable. With daily practice you will work out what is right for you. Stick to it once you have nailed it.
• Place the tip of the pot into the right nostril to form a gentle seal. Make sure the tip of the spout of the pot is designed to “seal “ the side of the nostril where you will be pouring in the saline solution.
• Lean forward from the waist, open your mouth and tilt the head to the right. You will slowly work out the correct angle of the tilt that feels comfortable and the water is flowing well from the alternate nostril.
• The water will start to enter through the right nostril and as you remain in this position, will start to flow out the left nostril. When you first start, you may find that there is very little or no flow for some time. Don’t panic or give up. You nose may be blocked and only time and regular practice will make you do this smoothly.
• Breathe through the mouth during this time. Allow 200 mils or more of water to rinse through each side of the nostril.
• Then remove the pot and slowly blow your nose to expel the rest of the water.
• Once the water has been cleared out, do the other side. Water in through the left nostril and out through right.
• Again blow out the water gently once done and you can repeat the cycle if you like.
• Once you are done, do some bending forward moves to remove any trapped water. You will soon work out what move help you to expel the excess water.

The MANY Benefits of Jal Neti:

• Excellent for those with allergies, hay fever, etc.
• Excellent for those prone to getting colds and coughs.
• Treats other respiratory ailments such as sinusitis, asthma, etc.
• Good for the ears and eyes.
• Promotes awareness, intuition and clarity
• Helps with headaches and migraines.
Promotes a sense of freshness and alertness

Jal Neti Tips and helpful hints:

I regularly practice these techniques and want to share with you some important tips to help you with your own practice.

• Make sure the water is not cool and is not too hot. Luke warm will be least irritating. Also, modify the salt content slightly to suit your body. If all is correct it will feel quite smooth and comfortable.
• I have a small pot, so I mix the solution in a large glass first and then pour half into the pot to do one side, and then half to do the other.
• Keep everything handy as that will go a long way in making this a regular practice. Keep all the necessary stuff in your bathroom shelf itself, including the salt.
• I want to re-emphasize that DO NOT blow your nose hard and do not pinch your nostrils when blowing out. This is counter productive and will send rubbish up into your ear canals and upper membranes.
• Keep a tissue with you as some of the water may leak out a few minutes after you are done.
• You may do Jal Neti at least once a day, although for regular practice two times a day is ok.
• Even though this does not sound like the most pleasant practice, it is really worth it and once you do it you will really enjoy the benefits and will soon be promoting it to others as well.

Hope this is of help to you. I would love to hear from you what your experience has been with this practice.
Cheers
Tony
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