Maha Bandha (the great lock)🔗

This is a combination of the above three locks. Do this only when in good health and proficient in the above three

Contraindications - pregnancy, high or low blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, hernia, stomach or intestinal ulcer·

Benefits – has all the benefits of the 3 bandhas.

Technique

• 1. Sit with back and head straight, padmasana or other meditative pose
• 2. Close the eyes, relax body, hands on knees
• 3. Breath slowly and deeply through the nose then exhale completely with force
• 4. Hold the breath outside and do the locks in this sequence jalandhara, uddiyana, moola.
• 5. Hold as long as you can comfortably without strain.
• 6. Release locks in this sequence moola, uddiyana, jalandhara. Inhale slowly when head is up.
• 7. Keep eyes closed, body relaxed, breathe naturally.
• 8. Repeat when breath is back to normal.
• 9. After practising for some time, spontaneous cessation of the breath occurs even after kumbhaka is released. Let this happen and just watch how long it lasts.
• 10. Practice in combination with bhastrika as kumbhaka can be held for longer time this way.

CHAPTER 9 - MORE ON PRANAYAMA