It is most unfortunate that in the modern day world Yoga is synonymous with asanas which are further synonymous with exercises. Exercises work from the outer to the inner world, which is not what our Rishis intended. The manifested world is too weak; it's too fragile and limited. Its effects are too short lived.

A Yogi remains healthy and glowing till his death. Paramhansa Yogananda was glowing even till a week before leaving his body. This is not achieved by doing complicated asanas and exercises. It is done by practices which are internal, whilst otheir effects manifest themselves externally. The Mahabandha is one such practice.

Instructions and benefits for:

-       Mool Bandha

-       Uddiyana Bandha

-       Jalandhara Bandha

-       Mahabandha

(See also: Bandhas, Yoga, Yoga and Health, Yoga Systems, Yoga Positions)

Jalandhara bandha:

throat lock' to restrict the flow of bereath through the throat - done by resting the chin on the upper sternum (chest).

(See also: Jalandhara bandha, Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

JALANDHARA BANDHA: a Hatha Yogic exercise

(See also: JALANDHARA BANDHA, Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

The Three Bandhas

35. The Yogic student should now practise the three Bandhas. The three Bandhas are: the Mula Bandha, the Uddiyana Bandha and the Jalandhara Bandha.

From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Yoga-Kundalini Upanishad: The Three Bandhas

Maha Mudra, Maha Bandha and Maha Vedha form one group. They are something like three stages of one exercise. Similarly Mula Bandha, Uddiyana Bandha and Jalandhara Bandha form another group. Mula Bandha is practised during Puraka, Kumbhaka, Rechaka and during meditation and Japa also. Uddiyana Bandha is practised during Rechaka and Jalandhara Bandha during Kumbhaka.

From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Mudras And Bandhas: Instructions On Mudras And Bandhas

Mudras and Bandhas are certain postures of the body by which Kundalini is successfully awakened. In Gheranda Samhita, the description of 25 Mudras and Bandhas, is given. The following 12 are the most important:-,, 1. Mula Bandha, 2. Jalandhara Bandha, 3. Uddiyana Bandha, 4. Maha Mudra, 5. Maha Bandha, 6. Maha Vedha, 7. Yoga Mudra, 8. Viparitakarani Mudra, 9. Khechari Mudra, 10. Vajroli Mudra, 11. Shakti Chalana Mudra, 12. Yoni Mudra.

From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Mudras and Bandhas: Kundalini Yoga - Mudras and Bandhas

Maha Bandha

Maha Mudra is the preliminary exercise for this. The Bandha destroys decay and death. The Yogi achieves all his desires and obtains Siddhis.

From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Maha Bandha: Practice of Maha Bandha

This FAQ gives an overview of those kundalini yoga practices which require conscious effort. Part I of III.

In Part II: 1) What are the techniques to unite prana and apana?, 2) What are the techniques to unite rajas and retas?, 3) Are those really the only techniques to awaken kundalini?, 4) Are these forceful methods of awakening kundalini dangerous? What about Gopi Krishna's books?

Read more here: » Kundalini Yoga: Kundalini Yoga FAQ (part II of III) -

Part II of III of Yoga-Kundalini Upanishad

The Yoga-Kundalini Upanishad is the eighty-sixth among the 108 Upanishads. It forms part of the Krishna Yajurveda. It deals with an exposition of Hatha and Lambika Yogas. It concludes with an account of the non-qualified Brahman. The Non-dual Brahman is the quest of all seekers.

From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Kundalini Yoga: Yoga-Kundalini Upanishad, Part II

The Yoga-Kundalini Upanishad presents methods for the control of Prana. The Yogic student does not deal with Vasanas. He concerns himself with the techniques of controlling the Prana.

From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Yoga-Kundalini Upanishad: Introduction to Yoga-Kundalini Upanishad

Part I of III of Yoga-Kundalini Upanishad

The Yoga-Kundalini Upanishad is the eighty-sixth among the 108 Upanishads. It forms part of the Krishna Yajurveda. It deals with an exposition of Hatha and Lambika Yogas. It concludes with an account of the non-qualified Brahman. The Non-dual Brahman is the quest of all seekers.

From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Kundalini Yoga: Yoga-Kundalini Upanishad, Part I

Brahmacharya is very very essential Even in dreams you must be free from lustful thoughts. It requires long practice and careful watch over the mind and Indriyas. Foolish people hastily jump up to the higher courses in Yoga in vain without having this important item which is very useful for spiritual Sadhana.

From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Yoga: Hints On Yoga

Four Asanas are prescribed for the purpose of Japa and meditation. They are Padmasana, Siddhasana, Svastikasana and Sukhasana. You must be able to sit in any one of these four Asanas at a stretch for full three hours without shaking the body. Then only you will get Asana-Jaya, mastery over the Asana.

From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Asanas: Most important Yoga Positions - Yoga Asanas

Manipura ( 'city of jewels' in sanskrit ) is the third primary chakra according to the Hindu Tantric tradition (Shakta). Sahasrara Ajna Vishuddha Anahata Manipura Swadhisthana Muladhara Bindu Manipura - Description. It is positioned at the navel region and it has ten petals which match the vrittis of spiritual ignorance, thirst, jealousy, treachery, shame, fear, disgust, delusion, foolishness and sadness. Manipura is asso ...

Including:

• Manipura - Description
• Manipura - Practices
• Manipura - Other Associations
• Manipura - Alternative names
• Manipura - External link

Read more here: » Manipura: Encyclopedia - Manipura

This article is about the style of yoga taught by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois of Mysore, India. This article is about the Ashtanga Yoga style of yoga taught by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois of Mysore, India. This school of yoga seeks to embody the traditional eight limbs of yoga (referred to as ashtanga or Raja Yoga) as expounded by Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras. Ashtanga Yoga is said to have its origin in the ancient text Yoga Korunta by Vamana Rishi, which Krishnamacharya received from his Guru Rama Mohan Brahmachari, and later ...

Including:

• Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga - Method
• Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga - Bandhas
• Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga - Drishtis
• Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga - Mantras

Read more here: » Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga: Encyclopedia - Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga

Sahasrara Ajna Vishuddha Anahata Manipura Swadhisthana Muladhara Bindu Vishuddha is the fifth primary chakra according to the Hindu Tantric tradition (Shakta). Vishuddha - Associations. Vishuddha is positioned at the neck region and it has sixteen petals corresponded to the Sanskrit vowels. Vishuddha is associated with the faculty of higher discrimination, between choosing what is right and wrong, and it is associated with creativity a ...

Including:

• Vishuddha - Associations
• Vishuddha - Practices
• Vishuddha - Other Associations
• Vishuddha - Alternative names
• Vishuddha - External link

Read more here: » Vishuddha: Encyclopedia - Vishuddha

 Jalandhara:

bandha where the chin rests in the notch between the collar bones

(See also:  Jalandhara, Body Mind and Soul)

jalandhara:

jalandhara - bandha where the chin rests in the notch between the collar bones

(See also: jalandhara, Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Maha bandha:

the great lock - combines the three locks in yoga - the moola bandha, jalandhara bandha and uddiyana bandha - together with breath retention.

(See also: Maha bandha, Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

Bandha:

Lock, an exercise of hatha yoga. The three main locks are jalandhara bandha, in which the head is bent forward and the chin is pressed against the chest, uddiyana bandha, in which the stomach muscles are pulled inward toward the spine, and mula bandha, in which the anus is pulled inward.

(See also: Bandha, Kundalini, Kundalini Yoga, Kundalini Dictionary)