Welcome to our second FB weekly post! Hope you had a great week and are ready for a whole new one!
If you’ve done sun salutations with me, you would have heard me give a brief explanation about bandhas and then asked you to engage them! So what the heck are they, and why are they so important?
Yoga philosophy says that bandhas are “energetic locks that channel and direct the flow of energy in the body to achieve optimal benefits of a pose. Bandhas provide core strength to stabilise the central axis of the body, thereby protecting the spine.” There are three main bandhas: Jalandhara (located at the throat), Uddiyana (located in the abdomen) and Mula bandha (located at the perineum).
Today, we will only discuss the latter two as those are the ones we use in our classes.
Uddiyana bandha – also known as the Core muscles
You engage this bandha by drawing the abdominal wall back towards the spine and upward. This action would seal the sides of the energy body and control the volume of energy within. Uddiyana bandha provides a powerful structural support for the abdomen, waist and low back. It helps to prevent back injuries in yoga practice. Some yoga poses like the head stand require strong abdominal muscles and activating this bandha regularly will help you achieve the pose with less effort.
Mula bandha – also known as the pelvic floor muscles
You engage the pelvic floor muscles by drawing the pelvic floor upward into the body. This action would increase the amount of energy in the body by sealing the bottom of the energy body. In time, this will help you achieve a strong pelvic floor, which provides support for the reproductive organs as well as a strong foundation for your yoga practice.
So, whenever you need strength, balance and stability, remember to engage both bandhas! And don’t worry, I will be there to remind you every time.
Have a fabulous weekend and I look forward to seeing you on Tuesday. Please feel free to ask questions or add comments below.
Namaste
Sossi Yohannes
First posted on: 15 September 2018, Facebook Group