half a teaspoon of rock salt or sea salt. But do not use fine grained
table salt, which would irritate your nose.
Put your nose in the water. Start ‘drinking’ the salt water through
your nostrils: draw the water through the nose and let it spill out
through the mouth. The water goes straight from the nasal cavity
into the mouth and gets expelled from there.
The whole operation is quick and not at all uncomfortable. It gives
a very refreshing and awakening feeling. It generates inner
clarity, and a sharp perception of energy in the nostrils.
Tips
- One of the secrets is not to take in air while drawing in the
water. That is why a wider cup is advisable. Otherwise after
‘drinking’ a quarter of the mug you start getting as much air as
liquid, and the result may be slightly irritating to your nose. - Another secret lies in the art of drying your nose after you
have finished expelling the water. Most of the modern treatises on
Hatha-yoga remain vague and evasive on this topic, advising
nothing more than blowing your nose. Mistake! If you practise the
following drying technique you will be surprised to see how much
more water will be expelled from your nasal cavities, even if you
have previously blown your nose for a few minutes.
Stand up with your legs apart and half-bent. Rest your arms on
your knees.
Without moving your trunk, throw the head upwards and
backwards, exhaling violently through the nose at the same time.
This is done in about half a second, after which a normal
inhalation follows.
Then, after half a second of motionlessness, quickly project the
head downwards, while strongly blowing the air out of your nose.
Inhale normally.
Then project the head upwards again, while vigorously blowing the
air out. Inhale normally.
Continue like this for half a minute or so, blowing the air out and
throwing your head up and down alternately.