What is Hatha Yoga Bandhas? | Hatha Yoga Bandhas | Bandhas Hatha Yoga

There are three bandhas Mula Bandha, Uddiyana Bandha and Jhalandara Bandha. Each bandha is a lock, meaning a closing off of part of the interior body. These locks are used in various pranayama and asana practices to tone, cleanse and energize the interior body and organs.When practiced together they are called tri bandha. They are practiced together or individually at specific times during kriya, asana, pranayama, mudra, visualization, dharana, and meditation practice.

The fifth limb in ashtanga yoga, pratyhara in turn acts similarly as a powerful vehicle for tapas and is its energetic counterpoint as our energy is no longer dissipated nor distracted into dualistic externalizations. As such pratyhara is the general operating principle while the specific bandhas work at specific energy circuits.

Types of Hatha Yoga Bandhas:

1.Paramananda Bandha

2.Hri Bandha.

3.Nabhi Bandha.

4.Swadhi Bandha.

5.Ajna Bandha.

6.Jivha Bandha.

7.Adjunctive Bandhas.

8.Utilizing the Three Basic Bandhas with the Breath, Pranayama and Advanced Mudra Practice.

9.Traya Bandha or maha bandha.

10.Jalandhara Bandha – Vishuddha Chakra or Rudra Loka.

11.Uddiyana Bandha – Manipura Chakra or Vishnu Loka .

12.Mula Bandha – Muladhara Chakra or Brahma Loka .

13.The Classical Bandhas.

The practice of bandha requires more conscious effort. The duration of bandhas is lesser than mudras because they are practiced mostly with Antar kumbhaka phase. Sometimes three bandhas are practiced together to intensify the practice of Pranayama and to generate a typical sensation.There are four major bandhas in vogue.Jalandhara bandha is for throat, Uddiyana bandha is for abdomen, Mula bandha is for perineum and anus, Jivha bandha is for tongue and palate.

This contraction is maintained for some length of time and this is done in a particular posture.Both of them require proper concentration on the technique. Both, the bandhas and the mudras are practiced on the empty stomach. Both of these practices are concerned with the higher aspects of yoga in order to progress on the spiritual path, both of them activate particular chakras and produce typical sensations, which are experienced by the sadhaka.