Kriya means movement or action. In yog, kriyas are referred to as cleansing techniques also called shatkaramas. Every kriya is aimed for a specific purpose. The main purpose being attainment of balance in the body. Shatkarma are 7 techniques which clean the body by removing the waste toxins from the body and eliminating the root cause of manifestation of disease. In this series of articles on kriyas we begin with Agnisaar kriya, which is responsible for aiding the functioning of the digestive system and the organs. In our body’s faulty elimination of waste also called 'ama' is the primary cause of creating imbalance which results in diseases.
A weak digestive system is unable to throw out the waste from the body as a result the waste starts rotting in the colon. This rotten waste or 'ama' causes congestion in the stomach resulting in the hindrance in the process of elimination and gives rise to problems like constipation dyspepsia, flatulence and other digestive disorders. Maximum imbalances in the body start with congestion in the stomach. Agnisaar kriya as the name suggests is aimed at rekindling the digestive fire, which results in proper elimination of waste from the stomach and intestine. It then brings the system back into a state of normalcy or balance.
- Sit in sidhasana. Keep your hands on your knees and slightly bend forward.
- Make sure your back is absolutely straight.
- Do few deep exhalations and then hold in exhalation.
- Then do a chin lock
- Push the stomach in and out rapidly five times
- Release the chin lock
- Repeat 7 times
Agnisaar kriya should not be done by women who are more than three months pregnant. However it can be practice in the post-natal period as this kriya strengthens and develops the abdominal muscles and the diaphragm. Those suffering from high blood pressure, overactive thyroid gland, acute duodenal or peptic ulcers should, chronic diarrhoea should not perform this kriya.
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