Moola Bandha - Root Lock

Moola Bandha or the root lock is third of the Bandhas. Other two are Jalandhar and Uddiyana bandhas described in previous posts. In this bandha perineum is contracted and pulled up. According to all the Yogis the first chakra, Mooladhara Chakra resides at this location and moola bandha activates this chakra. Once the chakra is activated the pranic energy starts rising fast towards the top most chakra.

In men the region involved is located between the anus and the testicles and in women near the vagina.

Steps to Practice Moola Bandha Sit in a meditative pose preferably in Siddhasana, wherein the heel of the foot touches the perineal region. This will help you to have greater awareness on the involved region and makes it easier to practice the Bandha.
Try to come to a relaxed state of body by relaxing your mind. This can be done by concentrating on our breathing for some time. Now focus on the root region and lift it up by contracting and then again relax it. Do it for several rounds in a rhythmic manner.

When you master this then after a few days you can try to hold the contraction for as long as you can comfortably and then relax with normal breathing.

Initially we do not have the control and the entire region is contracted and all the muscles nearby to the area are used. Sometime it may also involve some abdominal muscles but gradually with practice you will be able to control the contraction.

Benefits of Moola Bandha Practicing Moola Bandha helps in diseases of the anal region like piles and constipation. It also helps calm down the nerves of the reproductive organs. Those suffering from impotency of excess sexual desires benefit from this bandha though it will take some time.

Advanced practice which also involves breath retention should not be practiced without proper guidance from experienced teacher as it can also lead to many problems which results from not able to control the rising energy.

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Uddiyana Bandha - The Abdomen Lock

Uddiyana Bandh or the abdomen lock is another commonly practiced Bandha among the three Bandhs. This Bandha locks the energy in the stomach region and usually done with Jalandhar Bandha and activated Manipura Chakra.

Steps to Practice Uddiyana Bandh

1. Sit in a meditative posture with a straight spine.
2. Inhale and exhale slowly for few time and mentally preparing yourself.
3. Place the hands on the knees.
4. With exhalation press the chin to the throat in Jalandhar Bandh.
5. While retaining the exhalation pull the abdomen inside and try to pull up the abdomen towards the diaphragm.
6. Hold this position as long as possible and then slowly ease the abdomen to original position, come out of the Jalandhar Bandha and inhale slowly.
7. Practice this for 1 to 3 times during a session.

Benefits of Uddiyana Bandh
Uddiyana Bandh enhances the functioning of the abdominal organs and activates them hence enhancing the digestive activity. It also improves the peristaltic movement thereby helpful in constipation. It also helps in reducing abdomen fat. The adrenal glands get active and health of entire middle portion of the body improves.

It also balances the imbalance in the solar plexus and pulls the pranic energy upwards towards the heart.

Precautions Practice it with care and preferably under supervision especially since there is outer breath retention. If you have ulcers or other diseases of stomach then you should avoid this Bandha.

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Moola Bandha - Root Lock
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Jalandhar Bandha - The Neck Lock

Recently I wrote a brief article on Bandhas - The Yogic Locks. I got many responses for lot of you which were mostly questions on individual bandhas. I have decided to write in more details about each of the Bandhas. In this post I am covering Jalandhar Bandha - The Neck Lock. Jal means net and

Jalandhar Bandha is a simple procedure where in the energy is locked at the neck region by locking the chin with the neck pit or the sternum hence locking the psychic energy at the neck region.

Steps to Practice Jalandhar Bandha
Sit in a meditative pose like Siddhasana, Ardh Padmasana, Padmasana or Vajrasana and keep your back straight and rest your palms on the knees. Close your eyes, inhale fully and slowly and slowly rest your chin on the throat pit. This contract the neck region and the effect is similar to Sarvangasana or Halasana. Hold your breath as long as possible comfortable and concentrate on the throat which relates to Visuddhi Chakra

It is important that you do not stress by trying to overstay in this lock and gradually increase the stay.

Benefits of Jalandhar Bandha
This Bandha regulates the flow of blood in the upper region of the body including glands in the neck region and relaxes the nerves.
Helps improve the health of thyroid gland and therefore regulates the metabolism.
Helps one become introvert and control anger.

Precaution
In case you suffer from neck pain or spondylosis do not attempt this Bandha.

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