The internal yogic locks (bandhas) have some structural functions, but primarily they are energetic in nature, and on a very tangible level they regulate the flow of blood through the body.

Anatomically a bandha is the co-activation (simultaneous tensing) or opposing muscles around a joint complex. Each bandha has at least two opposing forms.

A ha-bandha is a compressive bandha that tends to push blood away from that region or prevent blood flow through that region.

A tha-bandha is an expansive bandha that tends to pull blood towards that region or encoureage blood flow through that region.

Jalanhdara bandha is located around the cervical spine and the ‘neck joint complex’.

Uddiyana bandha is located around the thoracic spine and the ‘chest joint complex’.

Mula bandha is located around the lumbosacral spine and the ‘waist joint complex’
(Reference: ‘Applied Anatomy and Physiology of Yoga‘, by Borg-Olivier and Machliss, 2012).

 

Exhalation retention bandhas are much safer to learn and practice in the beginning (at least in the simplest form shown below) as they are less likely to cause the problems of hyperventilation or radical blood pressure changes.

There are 7 main stages of exhalation retention with bandhas to learn. These are easier to learn in standing for most people. Each of these uses
ha-jalandhara bandha (head down and neck back)
tha-uddiyana bandha (expansion of the chest) and either ha-mula bandha (abdominal compression using the muscles of forced abdominal exhalation) or tha-mula bandha (using the diaphragm and often the rectus abdomens) on exhalation retention.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In this next video I am demonstrating a type of shakti chalani mudra while sitting in a cold river. This is quite an advanced mudra that incorporates several types of pranayamas, bandhas, kriyas and mudras while holding the breath in and out.

If done correctly by an experienced practitioner it is very effective in enhancing internal energy and health.

If done incorrectly it can causes minor problems such as headaches, but if done badly by an unprepared person it can cause stroke or death. Therefore it should not be attempted until each element of the mudra is mastered individually and there is the guidance of an experienced teacher.

For people who are newer to breath-control (pranayama) it is a good idea to practice each of the techniques described here separately. Each of the individual elements of this mudra have tremendous benefits when practiced alone. For example there are benefits to be gained by separately practicing the following. Again please be cautious and make sure you have the guidance of an experienced teacher for each step you make:

• inhalation through the mouth,
• lengthening the neck,
• lengthening the tongue,
• lengthening the spine,
• holding the breath in,
• compressing the trunk while holding the breath in,
• tensioning nerves and acupuncture meridians,
• breathing through alternate nostrils,
• holding the breath out, and
• expanding the chest while holding the breath out.

This breath-control exercise begins with a complete yogic breath using the diaphragm. The diaphragmatic inhalation first expands the perineum, then lower back, then the abdomen (the diaphragm stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system and the relaxation response).

Then with the diaphragm still active and the air held in the lower trunk the inhalation continues using the breathing muscles of chest into the upper back (which is kept lengthened throughout the pranayama to stimulate the sympathetic nervous system).

The breath then continues into the chest while keeping the breath in the abdomen as well (it is generally very hard for most people to inhale into the chest with the abdomen relaxed and expanded due to the diaphragm being still active, hence the complete yogic inhalation done in the proper way is very challenging).

The inhalation is through the rolled tongue (sitali) which cools the body (the water in this river is actually quite cold but tremendous heat can be generated with this pranayama so a cooling breath is warranted).

At the end of the inhalation  the breath is held in. The throat is then moved forward and chin moved upward (tha-jalandhara bandha) to create a negative pressure that brings energy up the spine and blood to the brain. At this point the tongue is stretched towards the chin, which stretches the front of the tongue.

Then the tongue is curled backwards towards the throat and gently sucked backwards into the throat (talabulam mudra), which stretches the back of the tongue. The tongue is a very ‘connected ‘organ, so stretching it in this way has a very powerful effect.

The tip of the tongue is the tip of the kidney meridian. The tongue connects via various tissues to the skull, the chest and the spine. Therefore stretching the tongue has a powerful effect on the internal organs as well as the musculoskeletal system.

The head is then brought downwards and the chin is brought into the throat (ha-jalandhara bandha). The breath is held in and then compressed with the muscles that normally use to exhale from the chest and from the abdomen.

In other words the chest and abdomen are compressed with a type of Valsalva manoeuvre (ha-uddiyana bandha and ha-mula bandha) that increases intra-abdominal and intra-thoracic pressure to give a type of hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a means of increasing the partial pressure of oxygen to bring it deeper into the body tissues. This type of therapy which is done medically in a hyperbaric chamber has been shown to increase cellular oxygen and promote healing.

While holding the breath in I am moving my arms and trunk in specific ways to stimulate various subtle channels (nadis) and acupuncture meridians. The changes in physical pressure increase the flow of oxygen (prana) to all the cells in the body but particularly into the spine with is kept lengthened throughout.

After holding the breath in for some time the tongue is released from the back of the throat and a swallowing action is made that inhibits the urge to breathe. The tip of the tongue is then placed at the back of the upper teeth. The right hand is used to block the left nostril and the air is released through the right nostril.

The exhalation is initially passive from the chest and when the passive exhale is complete, the rest of the air is expelled by actively drawing in the perineum and then bringing then navel to the spine without making the abdomen hard. One the air is fully expelled the breath is retained out and the abdomen is relaxed so that the navel moves away from the spine.

Once the breath has been out, a type of Mueller manoeuvre is applied that allows chest to be expanded (tha-uddiyana bandha) like inhaling to the chest. The abdominal muscles are then progressively activated then relaxed in a way that gives an observer the impression the abdominal muscles are rolling from left to right. This is an illusion (named lauliki) that is an internal cleansing process (kriya) generated because there is a sequential activation of:

• right rectus abdomini muscle,
• both rectus abdomini muscles (nauli  = ha-mula bandha),
• the left rectus abdominis and then
• a positive pressure compression of the abdomen (which actives the external oblique muscles) (ha-mula bandha)

After holding the breath out for some time the chest is brought downwards (compressed), the tongue released from the back of the upper teeth and a swallowing gesture is made. Then a new cycle can begin.

Each cycle of this pranayama (which is generally about 2 minutes long ideally) leads to rapid buildup of carbon dioxide which causes an increase in blood flow to the brain and heart (via vasodilation) and cells (via the Bohr effect), calmness to the nervous system, deep clarity to the mind and a very reduced need for food. This gives tremendous benefits to your circulation, your energy levels and your internal health in general.

To learn more about breath-control, internal locks, energy control gestures, and internal cleansing processes you can enrol in our online courses:

at YogaSynergy called Yoga Fundamentals and Applied Anatomy and Physiology of Yoga.

To learn more about these techniques you can get the Yoga Synergy DVD entitled ‘Stilling Calming Cleansing Body Breath and Mind in Dynamic Meditation’ from https://yogasynergy.com .

This video was filmed by Zac Human in the river near Ubud, Bali while i was teaching at Daniel Aarons Radiantly Alive Teacher Training course in 2008. The energy in and around this river was amazing. I must say this was one of the most nourishing yoga practices I have ever done in my life probably because of where I was.