Welcome to tutorial 3 on the four purifications from Hanayama.
The four purifications were taught by Baba Hari Das based on the ancient texts of the Garada Samhita and the Hatha Yoga Pradipika.
They were passed down to me by his students during my yoga teacher training at Mt.
Madana Institute and it is my intention to teach these practices in the same way that I was constructed.
The purpose of the four purification is to cleanse the nadis,
Or subtle body energy channels,
To prepare the body for further pranayama and meditation.
The intention is to practice the four purifications together to allow for prana to flow freely and naturally.
They are comprised of the following four practices that are considered complementary as they each are meant to purify different areas of the body using different types of breaths.
Nadi Shodhana or subtle energy channel cleansing.
It purifies the chest and uses a full yogic breath.
Kapal Bhati,
Skull or forehead shining.
It purifies from the crown of the head to the heart region using a rapid,
Slightly forceful exhale.
Anisara Dauthi or fire wash.
Purifies the area from the heart to the navel while holding the breath out.
Ashwini Mudra or horse seal purifies the area from the navel to the feet while holding the breath in.
While the four purifications can be practiced to prepare for any pranayama sitting,
It is generally advised to perform them regularly for two to three months before advancing to more intermediate pranayama with breath retention.
Some of the four purifications have certain contraindications which I will detail during my teachings of the individual practices.
The four purifications are covered individually in the following four tutorials and tutorials four through eight.
Thank you for joining.
Addendum,
Scriptural references for the four purifications.
Nadi Sorna,
Chapter 1,
Verses 56 to 57 in the Garaṇa Samhita.
Kapal Bhati,
Chapter 1,
Verse 55 in the Garaṇa Samhita and chapter 2,
Verses 35 to 37 in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika.
Anisara Dauthi,
Chapter 1,
Verses 20 to 21 in the Garaṇa Samhita.
Ashwini Mudra,
Chapter 3,
Verses 82 to 83 in the Garaṇa Samhita.
These references can be found in the translations by Pancham Sin for the Garaṇa Samhita and Raya Baha Tushrisa for the Hatha Yoga Pradipika.
