Do you suffer from a stuffy or runny nose, constant sneezing or sinus headaches Tired of trying different medicines with no permanent fix?
As exaggerated as it may sound, the solution to these problems could be in yoga.
Read on to know more.
What is Jal Neti?
Jal Neti is a cleansing kriya with its roots in Hatha yoga. It literally means to use water (Jal) and guide (neti) it to clean your nasal passages.
It is a natural, safe and effective way to clean your sinuses and improve your breath and overall quality of life. Just as brushing your teeth is integral to dental hygiene, jal Neti is a must to maintain hygiene of your upper respiratory system.
How do you perform Jal Neti?
While Jal Neti can seem to be an intimidating Kriya at first, it is actually very simple and can be done by anyone.
Follow these simple steps and aim to do this kriya once a day.
1. Fill the jal neti pot with room temperature water. Slightly warm water will also do.
2. Mix a pinch of sea salt to the water in the pot and stir so that the sea salt mixes. If sea salt is unavailable, table salt will also do.
3. Angle your head to one side and gently place the nozzle of the jal neti pot in the upper nostril. Once the jal neti pot is in place slightly open your mouth so that water can flow out of your nostril easily.
4. Pour water into your nostril slowly and wait for it to come out from the other nostril. Repeat a few times in the same nostril.
5. Tilt your head to the other side and repeat the same procedure on the other nostril.
Benefits of performing Jal Neti regularly?
1. Practicing Jal Neti regularly will maintain nasal hygiene by cleaning bacteria and dirt trapped in the upper respiratory system.
2. Jal neti calms the sensitive tissues in the nose, preventing a bout of rhinitis or allergies.
3. Jal neti is especially beneficial for people suffering from asthma since it makes breathing much easier.
4. Regularly cleaning your sinuses can keep sinusitis at bay, and prevent headaches.
5. Dry coughs, sneezing bouts, sore throats, etc are greatly reduced by practising jal neti regularly.
6. Jal neti is also known to clear the ducts of the eyes, improving vision.
7. The warm flushing of the sinuses calms the nervous system, reducing stress and relieving tension.
Precautions to keep in mind while performing Jal Neti
1. It is best to avoid Jal Neti if you suffer from chronic nose bleeds
2. Ensure the water in the Jal Neti pot is not too hot or too cold
3. Make sure to dry your nose well after performing Jal Neti
In closing, don't wait until you have a dry cough, or a runny nose to experience the benefits of Jal Neti. Take a couple of minutes everyday to perform this simply kriya and watch as your breathing and the quality of your life improves drastically!
