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EverVigilant
USA
9 Posts |
 Posted - Apr 28 2011 : 10:34:42 PM
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When it says "flex the anal sphincter", is this a "push" or a "pull"?
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Edited by - EverVigilant on Apr 28 2011 10:50:45 PM |
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cosmic
USA
821 Posts |
Posted - Apr 28 2011 : 11:29:40 PM
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Not a dumb question.
I guess it's more of a "pull". It's a tightening, like clenching a fist. Hope this helps! |
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WoodDragon
USA
56 Posts |
Posted - Apr 29 2011 : 07:25:03 AM
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There are no dumb questions, only dumb answers  .
Yes, it is a clenching of the anus, sometimes this can translate as a "push" or "pull", remember you are also going for a lift of the pelvic area when doing this, so a clenching with the intention to pull might be a better way of stating it. |
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EverVigilant
USA
9 Posts |
Posted - Apr 29 2011 : 11:04:15 AM
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So like if there are contents inside (hypothetically: in reality I would have gotten that taken care of already), I am *not* encouraging them to come out?
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JDH
USA
331 Posts |
Posted - Apr 29 2011 : 11:30:41 AM
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| Right. It would be more along the lines of clenching to hold those hypothetical contents in! Haha! And once you identify that muscle movement, just a soft flex of that - not a hard clench. |
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HathaTeacher
Sweden
382 Posts |
Posted - Apr 29 2011 : 1:29:49 PM
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Some yoga schools see bandha as an add-on to asana whereas in Tantra, the importance is rather reversed.
There's quite a physical effort in the beginning (that' by the way similar in all bandhas), like clenching, to gain control of the perineal muscle. Gradually, it becomes more of a soft flex, just an extremely slight activation.
Similarly, you might even start on a larger part of the pelvic floor and gradually pinpoint a small coin-sized spot inside the perineum (Mooladhara chakra). Gradually, Ashwini mudra, Moola bandha, and Vajroli mudra (or Sahajoli mudra, in women) thus become 3 distinct movements, although they tend to happen all in one in the beginning, which is quite normal.
You can use deep breath during your progress from the intense clenches to the slight flexes. Pull slightly inward as you inhale, and consciously sustain some tension as you exhale. Some people even visualize mooladhara chakra going up (on inh.) and down (on exh.)
It might feel like "hair splitting" into 3 tiny flexes, to be finally activated simultaneously anyway (during a Tantric union) but if you want to go a little deeper then it's easier to fine-tune them one by one; that makes you train more awareness and more muscle control. |
Edited by - HathaTeacher on Apr 29 2011 1:44:29 PM |
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EverVigilant
USA
9 Posts |
Posted - Apr 30 2011 : 12:50:23 AM
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| Thanks! |
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Victor
USA
910 Posts |
Posted - Apr 30 2011 : 06:32:09 AM
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| Hatha Teacher said it well. I don't really see it as a clench like a fist at all but perhaps during the learning phase it can be useful. Basically the idea is to generate an upward lift of the pelvis during pranayama practice and asana as a way of countering possible downward pressure coming from retaining the breath as any downward pressure into the pelvis can be weakening. Nothing is to be gained by a tightly gripped anus but a strong pelvic floor is important during these yoga practices.Essentially it is like this; If you inhale the breath and then retain that breath there will be internal pressure that builds up. If this pressure presses downward into the pelvis it will eventually lead to a weakness and possible injury. Certainly not a healthy yogic direction. So you gently give an upward lift to the inner pelvis to initiate an upward direction of this inner pressure. This upward direction then follows through the abdomen and upward into the rib cage so that while retaining the breath the inner feeling is that you are still inhaling. At the top of this pressure is the throat which is sealed and the head either dropped in jalandhara bandha or rotated in dynamic jalandhara. By continuing this upward direction as if still inhaling you minimize pressure on the throat as well which should feel very light rather than a bottled up sensation. Once that sensation of continuing the inhalation begins to reach its limit is the time to begin the exhalation. So mula bandha is basically the starting point for this upward intention of the pressure of the breath in pranayama. It is a gentle lift rather than a grip or a clench and it purpose is to protect the pelvic floor and to begin that general upward movement in the torso. |
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Possibly dumb question about mulabandha
