Bandha

The Sanskrit bandha means "to bind," "to bolt" or "to lock," from the root bandh, which is also the distant source of the English "bind." In yoga it names an internal "lock" — a deliberate, gentle engagement that seals a region of the body in order to contain and redirect prāṇa.

Three bandhas are classical: mūla bandha at the pelvic floor, uḍḍīyāna bandha drawing the lower abdomen up and in, and jālandhara bandha, the chin-lock at the throat. Practised together they form mahā bandha, the "great lock." Their purpose is a subtle direction of energy, not forceful muscular effort.

The Haṭha Yoga Pradīpikā and the Gheraṇḍa Saṃhitā both describe the bandhas in detail, teaching them alongside prāṇāyāma and mudrā. The texts present them as a means to gather prāṇa and guide it into the central channel, supporting the deeper aims of haṭha practice and inner stillness.

In practice bandhas are engaged lightly, often during breath retention or linked to particular postures. The engagement is refined rather than gripping — a lifting or sealing sensation more than a squeeze. Learning them well usually takes patient guidance, since the actions are internal and easily overdone when you first begin.

Bandhas are subtle internal actions, not forceful clenching, and heavy straining works against them. Those who are pregnant or manage blood-pressure concerns are usually advised caution, especially with uḍḍīyāna and breath retention. Learn them with a teacher, and treat the energetic descriptions as a traditional framework rather than physiology.