LEARN SANSKRIT WITH KARI:
Sanskrit is an Indo-European language that dates back thousands of years. Sanskrit, no longer used colloquially, is an intricately designed language system that has remained intact over time. The same Sanskrit that we learn today can unlock wisdom from antiquity.
This week we are exploring bandhas. The word bandhas translates as bond, fetter, or catching hold of. A bandha can be seen as a sort of internal mudra.
There are three major bandhas plus two additional bandhas we frequently talk about in yoga:
mūla bandha: mūla means root, base, beginning, foundation. The root being referred to is the perineum, the center of the pelvic floor.
uḍḍīyana bandha: Uḍḍīyana means to fly upward. This refers to the upward lift of pulling the belly into spine after mūla bandha is engaged.
jālandhara bandha: Jālandhara comes from Jāla which means “web or net” and the word dhara which means “holding.” This refers to drawing the chin toward the neck to create a throat lift.
Our two additional bandhas:
hasta bandha: hasta means hand. This refer to the lift, almost suction cup like, quality of the hand when fully engaged into the floor.
pāda bandha: pāda means foot. This refers to the lifting of the arches of the feet.