In Hatha Yoga, basti is one of the six cleansing acts. As
described in Hatha Yoga Pradipika (II. 26), Yoga experts practiced basti in a
river with water reaching upto the navel. It is a highly effective enema for
colon cleansing.
Bansi Enema Process
A tube such as a lotus stalk would be inside the rectum,
while standing in the waist pose (Utkatasana), bending the knees slightly,
keeping the hands pressed on the knees. After a deep expiration the student
performed nauli madhyama by pulling the abdominal wall back and isolating the
abdominal recti with a slight push below the navel, keeping the wall of the abdomen
relaxed.
This created a vacuum inside the abdominal cavity, due to
which water was sucked inside the rectum through the tube.
Thus basti is a sort of yogic enema in which water rushes up
to the caecum from where the colon begins.
After two or three repetitions, nearly half a liter of water
can be sucked in. Then the tube may be taken out, and after rolling the
abdominal recti by the process of nauli-chalana, clockwise and anti-clockwise,
water can be passed out along with the contents of the colon.
In modern times basti can be practiced in a toilet, using a
pot containing water, and a rubber tube in place of lotus stalk. Basti helps to
clean the alimentary tract, especially the colon and removes disorders.
It is more effective than the usual enema because in it
water is sucked in by the force of vacuum. It gives a feeling of well-being and
physical fitness.