{"id":5917,"date":"2026-09-08T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-08T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/holisticecoyoga.com\/?p=5917"},"modified":"2026-10-24T06:39:52","modified_gmt":"2026-10-24T06:39:52","slug":"hatha-yoga-kriyas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/holisticecoyoga.com\/en\/kriyas-hatha-yoga\/","title":{"rendered":"Kriyas: purification as a preparatory practice in yoga"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Javier Muriel, founder of Pranayam\u00ae<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Imagine a house that is meticulously maintained on the outside, with an impeccable fa\u00e7ade, whilst the interior is never cleaned. Over time, the space becomes uninhabitable, no matter how good it looks from the street.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Something similar can happen with the body. We wash it, dress it and look after it on the outside, but we rarely pay attention to the internal processes that sustain our breathing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hatha Yoga addressed this issue through a set of practices known as \u1e63a\u1e6d karmas<\/em> or kriyas: cleansing techniques that prepare the body for pranayama.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are they for and who are they for?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Ha\u1e6dha Yoga Prad\u012bpik\u0101 assigns them a very specific role: they are a means of preparation, not an end in themselves. It also adds a nuance that is often overlooked (II.21): the six kriyas should be practised first and foremost when there is an excess of fat or mucus; those who do not have this do not need them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are not, therefore, a standard hygiene routine for everyone, but rather tools that are applied depending on the individual and the circumstances in which they are used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The six kriyas<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The text lists six (II.22):<\/p>\n\n\n\n