Bandha (yoga)
A bandha (
Maha Bandha
Mahā Bandha ("the great lock") combines all the other three bandhas, namely:[6]
- Mula Bandha, contraction of the perineum
- Uddiyana bandha, contraction of the rib cage
- Jalandhara Bandha, tucking the chin close to the chest
In
Mula bandha
Mūla bandha is a primary bandha in traditional
Etymology
Mula Bandha (Sanskrit: मूल बंध) is from Mūla, meaning variously root, base,[9] beginning, foundation,[10] origin or cause.[3]
Description
[The yogi] forces the downward-moving apāna breath to move upwards by means of contraction. Yogis call this mūla bandha, "the root lock." When apāna has turned upwards and reached the orb of fire, then the flame, fanned by the wind, rises high. As a result, fire and apāna reach prāṇa, which is hot by nature. The overheated prāṇa creates a blaze in the body, which heats the sleeping Kuṇḍalinī and wakes her up. Like a snake struck by a stick, she hisses and straightens herself. As if entering a snake-hole, she enters the Brahmā naḍi. Therefore, yogis should maintain the regular practice of mūla bandha. Gorakṣaśataka[11]
Iyengar defines Mūla Bandha as "A posture where the body from the anus to the navel is contracted and lifted up and towards the spine".[4] This is qualified in that the actual muscle contracted is not the sphincter muscle nor the muscle which cessates urination, but the muscle equidistant between the two.
Maehle defines it as "root lock" and further specifies that:[12]
The root referred to here is the root of the spine, the
pubo-coccygeal (PC) muscle, which goes from the pubic bone to the tail bone (coccyx), we create an energetic seal that locks prana into the body and so prevents it from leaking out at the base of the spine. Mula Bandha is said to move prana into the central channel, called sushumna, which is the subtle equivalent of the spine.— [12]
Mūla Bandha is a primary Bandha in traditional
Uddiyana bandha
Uḍḍīyana bandha (Sanskrit: उड्डीयन बन्ध), also called abdominal lock or upward lifting lock, is the abdominal bandha described and employed in hatha yoga, in particular in the nauli purification. It involves, after having exhaled all the air out, pulling the abdomen under the rib cage by taking a false inhale while holding the breath and then releasing the abdomen after a pause. The process is repeated many times before letting the air into the lungs, resuming normal breath.[14][15]
Jalandhara bandha
Jalandhara bandha (
Etymology
Jālandhara bandha comes from
Description
This bandha is performed by extending the neck and elevating the sternum (breastbone) before dropping the head so that the chin may rest on the chest. Meanwhile, the tongue pushes up against the palate in the mouth. [21]
See also
References
- OCLC 928480104.
- sacred-texts.com (archive.org) pp. 95-127
- ^ a b c d e Iyengar, 1976: pp.435–437
- ^ a b Iyengar, 1976: p.525
- ^ a b Monier-Williams 1964, p. 720.
- ISBN 3-85052-000-5.
- ^ "Ashtanga Yoga Shala NYC - On Pranayama, Bandha and Drishti". Ashtangayogashala.net. Archived from the original on 26 November 2018. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
- ^ Mallinson 2012, p.261
- ^ Iyengar, 1976: p.515
- ^ Iyengar, 1976: p.459
- ^ Mallinson 2012, p. 269.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-57731-606-0, p.11
- ^ Iyengar, 1976: p.435
- Yoga Magazine, a publication of Bihar School of Yoga
- ^ How to do Uddiyana Bandha From Guy Powiecki from tradition Swami Kuvalayananda
- ^ "Monier Williams Online Page: 420". Retrieved 2020-01-21.
- ^ White 2011, p. 261.
- ^ "SpokenSanskrit.de Entry: जाल". Retrieved 2012-03-24.
- ^ Macdonell 2005, p. 99.
- ^ "SpokenSanskrit.de Entry: धर". Retrieved 2012-03-24.
- ^ Ramaswami 2005, p. 4.
Sources
- ISBN 1-85538-166-4
- Macdonell, Arthur (2005). A practical Sanskrit dictionary with transliteration, accentuation, and etymological analysis throughout. Oxford University Press.
- Maehle, Gregor (2007). Ashtanga Yoga: Practice and Philosophy, New World Library. ISBN 978-1-57731-606-0
- ISBN 978-0691140858.
- OCLC 928480104.
- ISBN 978-8-12150-200-9.
- ISBN 978-1-56924-402-9.
- ISBN 978-0691140865.