Shodhana: Ayurveda and Yogic Cleansing Practicum

• Format: YTT Short Course
• Chose four Short Courses to create an Eclectic Weekend Module
• Also part of “Swasthavritta: The Enlightened Self Care of Ayurveda” YTT Themed Intensive Module
• Instruction Time: 3 hours

In yoga and ayurveda, a primal emphasis has always been placed on shodhana – cleansing the body of Ama (toxins) and excess doshas (vata, pitta and kapha). In fact, the vast majority of early hatha yoga techniques were merely cleansing modalities, known as Shat Karmas. The purpose being to clean the physical and subtle bodies so that prana can flow freely. In ayurveda, Pancha Karma still stands as one of the world’s preeminent detoxification systems. How are the two systems similar and how are they different? Which system is most useful in today’s yoga practice? In this Shodhana course, we will review all the major cleansing systems native to yoga and ayurveda and specific instructions will be provided to aid the student in his or her own detox program, to empower the student to live cleaner, lighter and stronger. Each of the Shat Karmas, Shankaprakshalana (salt water cleansing), and James’ proprietary Kitchari home cleanse will be instructed as well.

Yoga Alliance: This program satisfies Yoga Alliance requirements for anatomy and physiology, philosophy, lifestyle and ethics, and elective hours.

Course Outline (3 hrs)

CLEANSING BASICS: MYTHS, ANTI-MYTHS, AND METHODS

• Shodhana (Clearing, Reducing)
• Cleansing as Universal vs Cleansing as Individual
• Introduction to Cleansing and Fasting: In Yoga and Ayurveda
• Malas: Waste Materials
• Ama: Toxins
• Common Signs of Ama/Toxicity
• Toxiciity Questionnaire: Ama Test
• Sapta Dhatues: The Seven Tissues and Detoxification
• Targeting Specific Tissues
• Food and Cleansing: Sara and Kit
• Fasting: Yogic and Ayurvedic Principles
• The Role of Agni in Detoxification

YOGIC CLEANSING: THE PATH OF WATER AND SALT

• Hatha Yoga and Shodhana: Keep It Flowing
• Asana and Pranayama in Cleansing
• The Shatkarmas: Classical Yogic Cleansing
• Shankaprakshalana (Lagoo and Poorna)
• Kungal Kriya
• Jala Neti

AYURVEDIC CLEANSING:  THE PATH OF OILS, THE PATH OF JUICE

• The Ayurveda Tradition of Cleansing
• Pacifying Derrangements of Vata, Pitta and Kapha
• Samprapti: Kriya Kala  – The Disease Process
• Srotas: Channels of Nutrients, Waste, and Toxins (Ama)
• Pancha Karma
• The 3 Stages and the 5 Purgations
• Clinical Panchakarma vs Home PK
• The Sevanti Kitchari Cleanse
• Ayurvedic Nutrition
• Pure Oils and Toxicity Prevention
• Herbs and Detoxification
• Culinary Spices: Agni and Cleanse Supporting Foods

APPENDIX

• Gall Bladder Cleansing