With the sweat produced by effort, one should rub the body. By this, firmness and lightness arise in the body.

A practical instruction that complements the previous verse about perspiration (sveda) as the first stage of prāṇāyāma.

Gātra-mardana — rubbing or massaging the body. The sweat produced by intense practice should not simply be dried off or washed away immediately. The text recommends rubbing it back into the body.

The benefits:

• Dṛḍhatā — firmness, bodily strength
• Laghutā — lightness, agility

This practice appears in various haṭha yoga texts. The idea is that sweat generated by prāṇāyāma contains valuable substances that are reabsorbed through the skin.

From a modern perspective, rubbing the sweat stimulates circulation, warms the tissues, and prevents rapid cooling after intense practice. It is also a form of self-massage that completes the session.

Wait for the body to cool naturally before bathing.