Heart of Yoga, by TKV Desikachar
Chapter 7 - The Bandhas
[A summary of the key points]
The bandhas play an important part in the cleansing process of yoga. They are the
means by which the process of reducing waste matter in pranayama can be intensified.
The old texts say that use of the bandhas enable the practitioner to direct agni
to the exact place where it is needed. bandha means "to bind or tie together, to
close". In yoga, it means "to lock". When you execute a bandha you lock certain areas
of the torso in a particular way.
The three most important bandhas are:
1. jalandhara bandha - this involves the neck and upper spine and makes the whole
spine erect
2. uddiyana bandha - this works on the area between the diaphragm and the floor of
the pelvis
3. mula bandha - this works on the area between the navel and the floor of the pelvis.
To learn the bandhas you have to work with a teacher. This is the only way of ensuring
that you can learn these techniques safely and correctly. [And this is why I will
not be including a description of them in these notes.]
You begin by practising bandhas with asana (but not constantly during a practice
- consult a teacher). Only then can you safely use them in pranayama.
Desikachar explains how the bandhas intensify the cleansing effect of pranayama:
"Jalandhara bandha positions the torso in such a way that the spine is held erect.
This makes it easier for the prana to move the flame toward the rubbish that needs
burning. uddiyana bandha then raises the rubbish up toward the flame, and mula bandha
helps us to leave it there long enough for the rubbish to be burned."
He also says that you should introduce bandhas in pranayama only after acquiring
the ability to establish a breathing ratio and maintain it easily for twelve breaths.
You can then gradually introduce the bandhas, build them up step by step, then taper
off gradually and finish the pranayama practice with simple breathing. He emphasises
that "We intensify our practice until we make progress in the preceding step, practicing
patiently without forcing the body or the breath."
