Kriyas to clear the nasal passage and increase air intake

Sinus problems are experienced by almost 60 per cent of the population, so I am devoting a few days to solve this nagging and irritating problem which humans have gotten so used to living with. Easy breathing should be every human’s natural state as it is a god-given gift which we have lost due to stress, pollution and ill-health. The following kriyas that we learn today are direct and powerful ways to clear the nasal passage and increase air intake.

Note: Exercise 1: You’ll need a special ‘neti pot’ — one end which ends in a nozzle. The nozzle should not be too thick or pointed and should fit comfortably in the nostril.

Exercise 2:You will need a ‘sutra’ or thin rubber catheter (size four, five or six, depending on size of the nostril).

Caution: It is advised to do these exercises for the first time under supervision. Both exercises should be avoided by people suffering from chronic nose-bleeds. Exercise two should not be done by those with nasal ulcers, polyps or septum malformations.

Exercise 1

• Add one tsp of salt to half a litre of lukewarm water and fill the neti pot

• Stand relaxed with your legs apart, bend forward and tilt your head to one side as shown. Keep breathing deeply, exhaling through the mouth

• Place the nozzle of neti pot in the nostril that is facing upwards and slowly pour water into it. The water will flow out through the other nostril

• Straighten up, blow your nose gently to remove any mucous

• Repeat with other the nostril

• Now close one nostril, and rapidly exhale 10-15 times through the other

• Repeat the other side.

Exercise 2

• Sterlise the rubber catheter, you can lubricate it with ghee or butter so that it slides easily through the nasal passage

• Stand comfortably and relax the body

• Raise your hand to the nostrils and check which nostril is flowing more freely

• Tilt head a little back. Very gently insert the narrow end of the sutra into the dominant nostril Twist it and keep inserting it gently downwards (never straight up) towards the floor of the nose. Keep your mouth open

• The thread will come out in the throat. Insert index and middle finger and pull sutra gently out through the mouth, leaving a few inches handing out of the nose

• Hold each end and very gently and slowly, pull the thread backwards and forwards twice or thrice

• Remove through the mouth

• Repeat with other nostril.