Links to Related Resources & Longer Articles:

• Āsana & Mudrā Practice Techniques Glossary – Grouped into Standing, Kneeling, Lying, Inverted, Backbend, Seated & Sitting
• Prāṇāyāma & Bandha Practice Techniques Glossary – Grouped into Primary, Secondary & Ancillary Techniques
• Compendium of Quotes from TKV Desikachar on the Yoga of T Krishnamacharya……
• Finding your starting point within Āsana to set a direction and route towards a goal…
• Religiousness in Yoga Study Guide: The Concept, Preparation and Techniques of Bandha
• Studying, Practicing and Learning the Tri Bandha involves Theory, Techniques and Cautions…
• The Viniyoga of Inversion as an Āsana or as a Mudrā……
• The Westernisation/Modernisation of Yoga Āsana with its emphasis on structural…

Collated Related Short Posts & Quotes:

“Depending on whether the mind is in a state of Samādhi or not,
the person enjoys permanent happiness or
successive chains of unhappiness and happiness.
Those who accept nothing short of Samādhi,
freedom from the suffering of disease is realised.
After all, the root cause of disease is the disturbed mind,
when we cannot distinguish right from wrong or good from bad.”
– T Krishnamacharya on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 34

“When seeking
the power of lightness,
take care lest we forget
the power of our roots.”
– Paul Harvey on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 12

“All actions are not rooted in Kleśa.
Those done when Kleśa are subdued produce joy.
Others produce different degrees of agony.”
– T Krishnamacharya on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 14

“Just as Mūla Bandha, Uḍḍīyāna Bandha,
Jālandhara Bandha and Jivha Bandha
are very important for Prāṇāyāma,
Mano Bandha is very important for Dhyānam.
Mano Bandha is Dhāraṇā.”
– T Krishnamacharya commentary on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Three verse 1

“Actions produce fruits,
fruits produce seeds.
The seeds root within us
as unconscious drivers.”
– Paul Harvey on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Four verse 8

“Uḍḍīyāna Bandha is a pre-requisite for
the other two Bandha, Jālandhara and Mūla.
From the practice of Uḍḍīyāna Bandha
the Nāḍī and Cakra become purified and strengthened.”
– From T Krishnamacharya’s composition,
the Yoga Rahasya Chapter One verse 67

‎”If a person can’t exhale from the lower abdomen
then you can be sure their Mūla is gone.”
– T Krishnamacharya

“Another simple posture is Adho Mukha Śvan Āsana.
the next step is to try them in some sitting postures such as Mahā Mudrā.
These Bandha can also be done in the headstand.
It is easy to do Bandha in this position because the lifting,
Uḍḍīyana Bandha, and holding up, Mūla Bandha,
of Apāna to the flame is almost automatic
because now the Apāna is above the flame.
If we can do the three Bandha in these postures,
we are ready to introduce them in our Prāṇāyāma.”
– TKV Desikachar ‘The Concept, Preparation and Techniques of Bandha’
Religiousness in Yoga Chapter Fourteen Page 197

“One of the most complicated aspects of Yoga practice is the Bandha. He has been able to link correctly various ideas on the Bandha that appear in different texts, and is able to say that certain Bandha can only be done in certain parts of the Prāṇāyāma.
I may also say, that nobody is clearer about the Mūla Bandha than Krishnamacharya.”
– TKV Desikachar Switzerland 1981.

“If there is nervous tension,
it will hold the Mūla down.”
– TKV Desikachar on the Bandha

“Backbends disturb the length and quality of the exhale,
in that they impact the Apāna and push the Mūla downwards.
Thus we need to consider an appropriate Pratikriyā Āsana
to compensate for this disturbance to the Apāna Sthāna.
Hence Pratikriyā such as Apānāsana to restore the Apāna.”
– 108 Postural Practice Pointers

“Whatever the effect Bāhya Kumbhaka has, it is
extended by the use of Uḍḍīyāna and Mūla Bandha.
However the total length of the breath is reduced.
Bandha substantially reduces the lengths
of the Pūraka, the Recaka and the Kumbhaka.
Which and by how much depends on the individual.”
– 108 Mudrā Practice Pointers

“Tri Bandha Sādhana – Jālandhara, Uḍḍīyāna and Mūla,
starts from the top down rather than the bottom up, in both senses.”
– 108 Mudrā Practice Pointers

“Which Āsana support the
principle of Mūla Bandha?
To stop the Mūla dropping,
as in Paścimatāna drawing
the Mūla towards Maṇipūra.”
– 108 Mudrā Practice Pointers

“Which Āsana support the
principle of Mūla Bandha?
To stop the Mūla dropping,
as in Paścimatāna drawing
the Mūla towards Maṇipūra.”
– 108 Mudrā Practice Pointers

“Hands shouldn’t be used in Uḍḍīyana Bandha,
the effect should come from the exhale which
starts in the navel, as if pulling up a piece of string.
It must be pulled up and brought closer to the Maṇipūra.
If this is done properly, then very little to be done afterwards.
Exhale is followed by a small jerk as Uḍḍīyāna pulls the Mūla up.”
– 108 Mudrā Practice Pointers

“So Uḍḍīyana Bandha is the technique
for introducing Mūla Bandha.
Uḍḍīyana Bandha elevates Mūla Cakra,
having elevated it, you tie it
and each time it wants to slide
back down, you bring it back up.
Therefore opposite to techniques such as
Bhujaṅgāsana, which is counter to the principle
of Uḍḍīyāna and pushes the Mūla Cakra down.”
– 108 Mudrā Practice Pointers