Ujjayi, Bandha & Granthi Flashcards
Benefits of Ujjayi
- Encourages a sense of tranquillity and calmness
- Increases heat in the body
- Increases parasympathetic nervous system response
- Traditionally practiced with āsana
- Relieves insomnia and can be practiced in Śavāsana or before sleep
Why is the application of bandha in asana so important to a Yoga student today and in what way has it changed your practice?
Western focus of Bandha as a means to apply muscular contraction to protect/support the physical body and joints to reduce the risk of injury and to improve the individual āsana and vinyasa during a Yoga class.
It brings strength, support and focus to my practice on both a physical and energetic level.
Discuss the significance of the holistic application of breath, asana and bandha practiced together
Bandhas play an important role in the cleaning process to the physical and energetic body and they intensify the cleansing effects of Prāṇāyāma practices such as the removal of cellular waste materials and the movement of Agni (the fire of life) through the body.
What are the seven bandhas?
Mula Bandha Uddiyana Bandha Jalandhara Bandha Maha Bandha Jiva Bandha Hasta Bandha Pada Bandha
What is Mula Bandha
Root lock
What is Uddiyana Bandha
Flying up lock
What is Jalandhara Bandha?
Throat Lock
What is Maha Bandha?
The Great lock - all three
Mula, Uddihana and Jalandara together
What is Pada Bandha?
Foot lock
What is Hasta Bandha?
Hand lock
What is Jiva Bandha
Tongue lock
What are the benefits of Mula Bandha?
Stimulates pelvic nerves and tones the excretory systems
Stimulates intestinal peristalsis and relieves constipation and piles
Beneficial for anal fissures, ulcers, prostatitis and chronic pelvic infections
Energetic effects relieves symptoms of depression
Relieves sexual frustration, suppression of sexual energy and feelings of sexual guilt
Beneficial for women who are pregnant to support the bowel and bladder
Who is Mula Bandha contraindicated for?
New students may become hyperactive if not taught properly
What are the benefits of Uddiyana Bandha?
Balances the adrenal glands decreasing the physiological effects of stress
Removes lethargy and soothes anxiety and tension
Stabilises and supports the lumbar spine as well as providing strength throughout the body during challenging asana
Builds agni – the inner digestive fire
Stimulates the solar plexus which has many subtle influences on the distribution of prana throughout the body
Which conditions is Uddiyana Bandha contraindicated for?
Ulcerative Collitis or Crohns disease Stomach or intestinal (bowel) ulcer/s Hernia High blood pressure Chronic digestive complaints Cardiovascular and heart disease Glaucoma and raised intracranial pressure Pregnancy
What are the benefits of Jalandhara Bandha?
Creates compression of the carotid sinus in the neck which help regulate circulatory and respiratory systems
Relives stress, anger, irritability and anxiety
Stimulation of the throat balances thyroid and parathyroid function
Which conditions is Jalandhara Bandha contraindicated for?
Cervical spondylosis
Vertigo
High blood pressure
Heart disease
What are the benefits of Maha Bandha?
Benefits all 3 bandhas
Increases hormonal secretions of the pineal gland and regulate entire endocrine system
Energises the whole body on a cellular level and therefore decreases the aging process
Soothes anger and introverts the mind prior to meditation
When perfected can awaken prana in the chakras
Who is Maha Bandha contraindicated for?
Abnormally high or low blood pressure Heart conditions Stroke Hernia Stomach or intestinal (bower) ulcer Pregnant women
What are the three main Granthi?
Rudra Granthi
Vishnu Granthi
Brahma Granthi
What bandha does Brahma Granthi correlate to?
Mula Bandha
What chakras does Brahma Granthi correlate to?
Muladhara and Svadhisthana
What bandha does Vishnu Granthi correlate to?
Uddiyana Bandha
What chakras does Vishnu Granthi correlate to?
Manipura and Anahata
What bandha does Rudra Granthi correlate to?
Jalandhara Bandha
What chakras does Rudra Granthi correlate to?
Vishuddha and Ajna
What does the word granthi mean?
Knot
How does asana impact on Granthi?
Asana and activating the bandhas helps to unblock the three granthis that prevent prana from freely circulating within the Sushuma nad
