From the outset, Dr Sue was using a word I was unfamiliar with: Mulabandha. I now know that it represents a “locking” of the root of our energy at the base of the spine. It clicks with my last post about the Light Shaft. The idea is to concentrate on four points: the Mulabandha, the solar plexus, the throat and the pineal, while breathing energy in from above us and moving it down the spine, then right through to the Earth below; with alternate breaths, we then breath energy up from the Earth, through the spinal energy shaft and on upward into the sky (I call these extremes, our Earth Spirit and our Soul Star).
‘Bandha’ is a yogic system that allows subtle energy to flow. Mulabandha is introduced with the contraction of the pelvic floor muscles. I, like many others, was already familiar with this process, because I do daily pelvic floor muscle exercises. Imagine that you urgently need the toilet, but have to hold it, or that you start to urinate and have to stop. If you have ever exercised these muscles, you are already using Mulabandha. The location of the point you are concentrating on is called the perineum.
The next point up is the Uddiyana Bandha at the solar plexus: - gently draw the stomach inwards on inhalation. Uddiyana Bandha is linked to inhalation; Mulabandha is linked to exhalation – expand the stomach outwards on exhalation.
The third point is called Jalandhara Bandha, at the throat. The head is tilted back and the tongue rolled back and up against the palate while smiling slightly. Jalandhara Bandha redirects the ascending energy in the spinal column up towards the fourth point, which yogis call the Ajna Chakra in the middle of the head. Dr Sue suggests rolling the eyes back – not painfully, but just enough so that you can feel that forth high point.
Performing such a breathing exercise facilitates the movement of Light energy up and down through your system, removing any blockages in the way.
Images: Top left – Pinterest; Top right – KindPng.com
Below left and right: Alengova Blogspot