About Yoga: Meet the Bandhas

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Yoga Yoga Yoga Styles Beginners Poses & Workouts From Ann Pizer, your Guide to Yoga The bandhas (locks) are ways to engage the interior body and channel prana. These locks are used in various pranayama and asana practices to tone, cleanse, and energize. When all three bandhas are activated at the same time, it is called maha bandha, the great lock. Mula Bandha - Root Lock Mula bandha is a drawing up of the pelvic floor. Engaging this lock helps give you a lift when you are jumping forward or back, as well as in standing poses. Read more... See More About:  bandhas  ashtanga  advanced yoga Uddiyana Bandha - Abdominal Lock Engaging the abdominal lock is a natural continuation of the root lock. As the pelvic floor draws upwards, the belly rises in and up underneath the rib cage. Read more... Jhalandara Bandha - Throat Lock The throat lock is often done along with the other two locks in breathing exercises. The breath is retained with all three bandhas engaged, for instance. Read more... See More About:  breathing exercises  advanced yoga  ashtanga Pose of the Week - Cow Face Pose - Gomukhasana If you have tight shoulders, the arm position in cowface pose is going to be a challenge, but practicing it regularly (with the help of a strap, if necessary) can lead to much more openness in this area. Eventually, you may even be able to scratch your own back! See More About:  seated poses  hip openers  intermediate poses Yoga Ads Kundalini Yoga Yoga Exercises Ashtanga Yoga Yoga Poses for Hips Yoga Poses Featured Articles Advanced Yoga Yoga Glossary Yoga Frequently Asked Questions Practicing Yoga During Pregnancy Beginning Yoga Practice An Index of Yoga Poses   More from About.com Free Children's Books How would you like to have access to a free online public library of books from around the world for kids 3 to 13? Read more...> Best Water Parks Better pack your bathing suit -- here are our recommendations for the funnest, wettest, splashiest water parks around. Read more...> This newsletter is written by: Ann Pizer Yoga Guide Email Me | My Blog | My Forum   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About.com Yoga newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. About.com respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 249 West 17th Street New York, NY, 10011 © 2012 About.com   Must Reads What is Yoga? Yoga for Beginners - How to Start Yoga and Weight Loss Find Yoga Poses Sun Salutation - Step by Step   Follow me on: Advertisement