Guest guest Posted January 20, 2006 Report Share Posted January 20, 2006 Folks, what follows can perhaps serve as a cautionary story about bandhas. Please don't think I am blowing my horn: this was a personal, off-list message that Chris asked me to post. About the bandhas: the stuff is VERY powerful. Today I did my asana practice followed by pranayama, ida and pingala breathing, spinal breath, and then mula and uddiyana bandha at the same time. I saw flames on my crown (not hot, but very bright, espanding like a crown), then the corners of my mouth pulled up, in fact all the skin of my face pulled up (never heard of this before, but it happened last week, too!). I was keeping the tip of my tongue against the palate, but the energy rolled it all the way back towards my throat into a spontaneous kechari mudra (which I have never done before). My hands were pulled up, my head got tilted back, and I felt an upward rush of energy through the body. No visuals this time, but the rush was strong. [in hindsight, it felt like having a big vacuum pump above my head, pulling my body up.] When it was over, I felt I was not alone. Instead, I was in the presence of something way, way bigger than me. It felt very real, absolutely and overwhelmingly physical (among others). Like the first time I had a close K encounter, it was humbling and somewhat intimidating. I thanked the Devas and the angels, and when I opened my eyes I had a dark spot in my visual field, right in front of me. When I closed my eyes, the dark spot was very bright. I got up, tried to switch on the light, and as I touched the switch all the bulbs in the chandelier blew up. I still feel dizzy. Had to eat some sugar right away, and I still feel high... I am glad you cautioned the list that the bandhas have to be treated with extreme respect. They are very, very powerful. Love, Sel (still a bit dizzy, one hour later) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 25, 2006 Report Share Posted August 25, 2006 A reminder - c , " selena230 " <selena230 wrote: > > Folks, what follows can perhaps serve as a cautionary story about > bandhas. Please don't think I am blowing my horn: this was a personal, > off-list message that Chris asked me to post. > > About the bandhas: the stuff is VERY powerful. Today I did my asana > practice followed by pranayama, ida and pingala breathing, spinal > breath, and then mula and uddiyana bandha at the same time. I saw > flames on my crown (not hot, but very bright, espanding like a crown), > then the corners of my mouth pulled up, in fact all the skin of my > face pulled up (never heard of this before, but it happened last week, > too!). I was keeping the tip of my tongue against the palate, but the > energy rolled it all the way back towards my throat into a spontaneous > kechari mudra (which I have never done before). My hands were pulled > up, my head got tilted back, and I felt an upward rush of energy > through the body. No visuals this time, but the rush was strong. [in > hindsight, it felt like having a big vacuum pump above my head, > pulling my body up.] When it was over, I felt I was not alone. > Instead, I was in the presence of something way, way bigger than me. > It felt very real, absolutely and overwhelmingly physical (among > others). Like the first time I had a close K encounter, it was > humbling and somewhat intimidating. I thanked the Devas and the > angels, and when I opened my eyes I had a dark spot in my visual > field, right in front of me. When I closed my eyes, the dark spot was > very bright. I got up, tried to switch on the light, and as I touched > the switch all the bulbs in the chandelier blew up. > > I still feel dizzy. Had to eat some sugar right away, and I still feel > high... > > I am glad you cautioned the list that the bandhas have to be treated > with extreme respect. They are very, very powerful. > > Love, > > Sel (still a bit dizzy, one hour later) > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 25, 2006 Report Share Posted August 25, 2006 Mula Bandha Uddiyana Bandha Jalandhara Bandha Mahabandha Mula BandhaThis is the root lock. It is located at the base of your spinal column in the perineal muscle. This is a deep muscle in the region between your anus and genitals. If you are familiar with the Keigal exercise recommended for women in preparation for childbirth, then you are familiar with contracting the perineal muscle. Another way to think about it is by imagining you have to stop the flow of urine mid-stream while going to the toilet. The contracting of the perineal muscle is subtle, you do not need to contract your buttocks, but rather focus on contracting only the perineal muscle. Mula Bandha is a key lock in stabilizing the pelvic region during your practice.Uddiyana BandhaThis lock is located in the area two inches below your navel to your diaphragm and it means flying upward. To engage Uddiyana Bandha, exhale fully and pull your belly inward and upward while lifting your diaphragm. During practice this intensity will not be maintainable, because to inhale fully, Uddiyana Bandha cannot be completely engaged. Imagine keeping the area between your navel and two inches below your navel still while drawing your navel upward towards your spine. This is a more subtle contraction than fully engaging Uddiyana Bandha. Perform fully engaging Uddiyana Bandha to get in touch with the muscles involved and working your diaphragm. Then, while you are practicing asanas, work at developing the more subtle engagement.Jalandhara BandhaThis is the throat lock. To engage Jalandhara Bandha, lengthen the back of your neck as if the crown of your head were being pulled by a string and bring your chin back and down towards the space between where your two clavicle bones meet (this is the area just below your Adam's apple). This lock is not engaged throughout the practice but is used on specific asanas as indicated. MahabandhaWhen you have Mula Bandha, Uddiyana Bandha and Jalandhara Bandha engaged it is referred to as Mahabandha, the great lock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 25, 2006 Report Share Posted August 25, 2006 I have no prior knowledge of this kind of thing, I'm more a dancing, moving kind of person, I'm not sure I really understand what to do with these bhandas. Do you just try to master the position, how long do you stay in each " lock " . Do you breath in and out while doing them? or are you supposed to meditate in the position? Sorry to be such a ninny but these kind of indian studies and terminology is all new to me, and not something I'm naturally drawn towards. Inlove and thanks E x x x _________ Messenger - NEW crystal clear PC to PC calling worldwide with voicemail http://uk.messenger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 25, 2006 Report Share Posted August 25, 2006 It is all of what you just stated. Try for as long as you can without stressing or compramising the lock. - blessings - c Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 25, 2006 Report Share Posted August 25, 2006 I just wanted to thank and you just now for giving me the names of what the heck I experienced! First time I've read anywhere that anybody else had this too. That is, your description of what happened to your face is what I alluded to in a previous post to do with facial tremors occuring during the spontaneous awakening I experienced ... face started to twitch like it electrodes all over it starting with nose/cheeks/sides of mouth.... then drew up wards so I thought my chin was touching my forehead ... it was after that when the head tilted back and the tongue rolled back and pointed down the throat ... Metta. Alexchrism <> wrote: A reminder - c , "selena230" <selena230 wrote:>> Folks, what follows can perhaps serve as a cautionary story about> bandhas. Please don't think I am blowing my horn: this was a personal,> off-list message that Chris asked me to post. > > About the bandhas: the stuff is VERY powerful. Today I did my asana> practice followed by pranayama, ida and pingala breathing, spinal> breath, and then mula and uddiyana bandha at the same time. I saw> flames on my crown (not hot, but very bright, espanding like a crown),> then the corners of my mouth pulled up, in fact all the skin of my> face pulled up (never heard of this before, but it happened last week,> too!). I was keeping the tip of my tongue against the palate, but the> energy rolled it all the way back towards my throat into a spontaneous> kechari mudra (which I have never done before). My hands were pulled> up, my head got tilted back, and I felt an upward rush of energy> through the body. No visuals this time, but the rush was strong. [in> hindsight, it felt like having a big vacuum pump above my head,> pulling my body up.] When it was over, I felt I was not alone.> Instead, I was in the presence of something way, way bigger than me.> It felt very real, absolutely and overwhelmingly physical (among> others). Like the first time I had a close K encounter, it was> humbling and somewhat intimidating. I thanked the Devas and the> angels, and when I opened my eyes I had a dark spot in my visual> field, right in front of me. When I closed my eyes, the dark spot was> very bright. I got up, tried to switch on the light, and as I touched> the switch all the bulbs in the chandelier blew up. > > I still feel dizzy. Had to eat some sugar right away, and I still feel> high...> > I am glad you cautioned the list that the bandhas have to be treated> with extreme respect. They are very, very powerful. > > Love,> > Sel (still a bit dizzy, one hour later)> All-new Mail - Fire up a more powerful email and get things done faster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 25, 2006 Report Share Posted August 25, 2006 Thank you, bless, Japo , chrism <> wrote: > > > Mula Bandha > Uddiyana Bandha > Jalandhara Bandha > Mahabandha > Mula Bandha > This is the root lock. It is located at the base of your spinal column in the perineal muscle. This is a deep muscle in the region between your anus and genitals. If you are familiar with the Keigal exercise recommended for women in preparation for childbirth, then you are familiar with contracting the perineal muscle. Another way to think about it is by imagining you have to stop the flow of urine mid-stream while going to the toilet. The contracting of the perineal muscle is subtle, you do not need to contract your buttocks, but rather focus on contracting only the perineal muscle. > > Mula Bandha is a key lock in stabilizing the pelvic region during your practice. > > Uddiyana Bandha > This lock is located in the area two inches below your navel to your diaphragm and it means flying upward. To engage Uddiyana Bandha, exhale fully and pull your belly inward and upward while lifting your diaphragm. During practice this intensity will not be maintainable, because to inhale fully, Uddiyana Bandha cannot be completely engaged. Imagine keeping the area between your navel and two inches below your navel still while drawing your navel upward towards your spine. This is a more subtle contraction than fully engaging Uddiyana Bandha. > > Perform fully engaging Uddiyana Bandha to get in touch with the muscles involved and working your diaphragm. Then, while you are practicing asanas, work at developing the more subtle engagement. > > Jalandhara Bandha > This is the throat lock. To engage Jalandhara Bandha, lengthen the back of your neck as if the crown of your head were being pulled by a string and bring your chin back and down towards the space between where your two clavicle bones meet (this is the area just below your Adam's apple). This lock is not engaged throughout the practice but is used on specific asanas as indicated. > > Mahabandha > When you have Mula Bandha, Uddiyana Bandha and Jalandhara Bandha engaged it is referred to as Mahabandha, the great lock. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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