Bandha (yoga)
A bandha is a kriyā in Hatha Yoga, being a kind of internal mudra described as a "body lock," to lock the vital energy into the body. Bandha literally means bond, fetter, or "catching hold of".
''Maha Bandha''
Mahā Bandha combines all the other three bandhas, namely:- Mula Bandha, contraction of the perineum
- Uddiyana bandha, contraction of the abdomen into the human [rib cage|rib cage]
- Jalandhara Bandha, tucking the chin close to the chest
''Mula bandha''
Mūla bandha is a primary bandha in traditional yoga. The earliest textual mention of mūla bandha is in the 12th century Shaiva Natha text Gorakṣaśataka which defines it as a yogic technique to achieve mastery of breath and to awaken the goddess Kuṇḍalinī.Etymology
Mula Bandha is from Mūla, meaning variously root, base, beginning, foundation, origin or cause.Description
Gorakṣhaśataka defines mūla bandha as:Iyengar defines Mūla Bandha as "A posture where the body from the anus to the navel is contracted and lifted up and towards the spine". This is qualified in that the actual muscle contracted is not the sphincter muscle nor the muscle which cessates urination, but Transverse [perineal muscles|the muscle equidistant between the two].
Maehle defines it as "root lock" and further specifies that:
Mūla Bandha is a primary Bandha in traditional yoga. Iyengar likens the functionality of the Bandha and especially Mūla Bandha to "safety-valves which should be kept shut during the practice of kumbhakas". He specifies the energetic prāṇas of Vāyus engaged through Mūla Bandha as: "...Apāna Vāyu, whose course is downwards, is made to flow up to unite with Prāna Vāyu, which has its seat within the region of the chest." He cautions that "Mūla Bandha should be attempted first in antara kumbhaka. The region of the lower abdomen between the navel and the anus is contracted towards the spine and pulled up to the diaphragm. He further states that "While practicing Mūla Bandha, the yogi attempts to reach the true source or mūla of creation."