I used to believe yoga always heals. But one thing kept bothering me. Every time I did yoga in the morning, even intense practices like Kunjal Kriya, Keval Kumbhak, or leg lifts, I felt good. No gas, no reflux, no acidity. Just clarity.
But when I did even light yoga later in the day, or even gentle breathing like Keval Kumbhak in the evening — it felt wrong. Sometimes I felt a gushing in the belly, sometimes acidity, sometimes a stuck sensation on the right side. I wondered: is it really the food? Or something deeper?
I tried Kunjal Kriya — where you drink lukewarm saline water on an empty stomach and voluntarily vomit it out. I vomited about 200-250 ml water out. I tried by rubbing two fingers on back of tongue and on glottis. Only it should be done few times otherwise inflammation or injury may happen to delicate oral mucosa. As much water expelled out that much is enough. Rest would have passed away to intestine from stomach. So it should be done within 5-7 minutes of drinking otherwise it srarts passing down to intestine. Keep head and chest down while vomiting. I think sitting on chair in bathroom and bending down from it would have been better. I did it calmly, and within an hour, I passed a half-liter watery stool also. My belly had a dull sensation on the right side, like something was clearing but not fully gone. That’s when I asked: is this my appendix? Is it normal?
The answer came in parts.
Understanding the Cleansing Chain Reaction
Kunjal doesn’t just clear your stomach — it stimulates your gut from top to bottom. That “gushing” feeling isn’t a problem. It’s the body saying, “Let me finish cleansing.” Sometimes the water travels downward, clears the intestines, and even triggers loose stool. It’s like a mini version of Shankh Prakshalana, the full gut wash, but done gently.
What’s more important is to wait before doing strong asanas after Kunjal. One should not do such asanas after Kunjal that press the belly. I did try a few light postures — like Bhujangasana, Balasana, Cat-Cow, and Uttanpadasana. I was careful. These movements gently encouraged the intestines to finish their work — and they did.
About two to three hours after Kunjal or Vaman, I ate a small cup of light moong dal khichdi. That was enough banana can also be eaten as it soothes the mucosal lining. It didn’t burden the system. It soothed the belly and brought balance. After kunjal, gut surface becomes raw and can be easily irretated with excessive and spicy food. Kunjal removes excess and rottening mucous, toxins etc. from stomach mucosa that helps vagus nerve getting healthy and correct signals for healthy digestion and git movements.
I also tried Jal Neti using a neti pot. It helped clear the nasal passages and stopped mucus from dripping into my throat from the sinuses. That alone made my breathing and head feel lighter.
But when I tried the same yoga later in the day — even hours after food — the belly resisted. That’s when I realized: it’s not the technique. It’s when and how I do it.
Why Does Morning Work But Not Evening?
In the early morning, the stomach is empty, nerves are calm, the system is rested. That’s when the vagus nerve — the long wire connecting brain to belly — is most balanced. That’s why cleansing feels natural then.
The vagus nerve is like a telephone line between the brain and gut. It is named ‘vagus’ because it wanders blindly or vaguely and covers almost the whole body. When the line is clear, signals flow smoothly. But if it’s overused or disturbed, miscommunication starts.
But later in the day, the same actions confuse the system. Even when no food is present, the body is digesting emotions, stress, or previous pranic actions. The vagus becomes sensitive. Even a soft technique like Keval Kumbhak, meant to be passive, can become slightly activating. Not because it’s forceful — but because timing and readiness matter. That’s why keval Kumbhak settles better on a fast or light meals day that’s often kept in religious rituals.
Simple Way to Understand the Body
Think of your body as a house with three workers.
The Upward Boy lives in the chest. He handles speech, burping, and vomiting. If he gets hyper, he throws acid upward. This is Udana prana.
The Middle Cook lives near the navel. He digests. If he’s disturbed, food remains half-done and creates discomfort. This is Samana prana.
The Downward Sweeper lives below the navel. He moves waste out. If he’s lazy or blocked, gas rises, and the Upward Boy panics. This is Apana prana.
Kunjal wakes them up in the morning gently. The Sweeper starts working, the Cook warms up, and the Boy upstairs stays calm.
But if you repeat the same actions when these workers are already busy, they get annoyed and over stimulated. The Boy gets jumpy. The Cook gets confused. The Sweeper hides. Then acid rises. Then breath feels off. Then your practice backfires.
I Also Worried: What If It’s My Appendix?
That dull right-side belly ache — I feared it could be appendix. But I learned: Kunjal can never cause appendicitis. However, if appendicitis was already silently forming, the cleansing may bring it into awareness. True appendix pain doesn’t shift or ease. It grows, becomes sharp, and brings fever or vomiting. What I had was likely trapped gas or water in the right colon — common after cleansing. It went away with rest, left-side lying, and warm ajwain water.
Appendix pain doesn’t shift or ease. It grows. If in doubt, yes — an ultrasound can help. But if symptoms are mild, shifting, and improving with posture, it’s usually not dangerous.
How to Sleep After Kunjal?
It’s best to sleep two to three hours after Kunjal not earlier, once belly settles. Although it’s voluntary. Best position is left-side, which helps drain residual water or gas from the right colon to the exit path. Avoid lying flat too soon. I rested on my left, and the body took care of itself.
So Can Kunjal Cure GERD?
Yes — if GERD is not caused by physical damage, but by habitual upward movement of energy, Kunjal can help reverse it. It clears mucus, resets reflexes, and re-teaches the stomach to behave.
But it has to be done:
- In the early morning
- On an empty belly
- Not too often
- And followed by rest and soft food
If overdone or mistimed, it can irritate the same vagus nerve it’s meant to soothe.
And What About Keval Kumbhak?
Yes — it’s supposed to be passive. A gentle pause in breath when the mind is still. But even that can subtly stir upward energy in sensitive people, especially outside morning.
If I try to “hold breath” or even mentally wait for silence, my system can misinterpret it as tension. The key is: let breath stop on its own. Don’t invite Keval. Let it come like sleep — naturally, humbly, without effort.
What Finally Made Sense
Probably the GERD wasn’t from food or a disease. It was a pranic imbalance, caused by wrong timing of practice. My morning body accepted everything. My evening body said no.
So now, I simply follow:
Do all active yoga, Kunjal, Agni Sara, or breathwork only in the morning. In the evening, I rest. I gargle. I lie on my left side. I do Brahmari. I don’t chase silence or Kumbhak. I let it come.
My GERD listens. My breath listens. And I listen to them in return.
This is yoga. Not of muscles or names. But of rhythm, surrender, and truth.
Let the Boy upstairs or udana prana stay quiet. Let the Cook or samana prana do his job. Let the Sweeper or apana prana walk in peace.
That’s all.
Demystifying Kundalini 