admin If you are ready to take your practice to the next level, influence the subtle energies of the mind and body, and increase the flow of vital prana, this article is for you.
It is important to note that bound variants of asanas can be practiced in mudra. Mudra are symbolic gestures or movements that are most often performed with the hands.
When the hands and wrists are sealed together to form bound variations of a particular yoga pose, mudras can be translated as “seals.” Binding the wrists or hands together can help redirect the prana back into the body, which will aid in reflection and deeper practice.
With creativity, curiosity, and patience, in addition to the intention of respecting your body, you can make almost any asana into a binding. It is better to practice binds with care rather than obsessionally in order to protect the body. This includes the delicate joints of the shoulder, the easily jostled shoulder blades, and the compressional spine.
The use of a hand towel or yoga strap can help to close the energy loop and reap the benefits.
Here are six variations of yoga poses that you can bind to get started.
Marichyasana – Bound forward fold with one knee high
Ashtanga Yoga practitioners commonly practice Marichyasana. It’s a variation on the classic forward bend with a binding to open the heart.
It is important to keep your extended leg moving and to bend your knee towards the face. This will prevent compression of the anterior spinal column that can occur when the spine is rounded deeply without support.
Bound Yogi Squat (Baddha Malasana)
The arm can be bound under the thigh or over the shin, as in a yoga squat. Wrapping your arms around the back and under the thigh will help prepare your spine and shoulders to perform Bird of Paradise.
Binding is often uncomfortable but should never be painful. Binding can be uncomfortable, but it should never be painful. If there is any pain at a specific location on the body, this could indicate that the bind has been applied too tightly and could cause injury.
Bound High Lunge Pose – Baddha Utthita Ashwa Sanchalanasana
Bound High Lunge Pose is a great way to prepare the body for Bird of Paradise. In high lunge, it is not uncommon for the weight to be distributed unevenly. The bind also tends to increase the weight on the front leg.
You can counteract this by sending energy out of the heel and through the back thigh to engage the rear leg. For the spine to continue lengthening, the hips must also be squared to avoid lateral compression toward the front leg. Front hip back and rear hip forward.
Bird of Paradise (Svarga Dvidasana)
Balance is challenged when you play around with the leg. To make this move work, it is important to ground the foot through the entire foot. Do not curl the toes to grip the floor.
Sending energy down balances the moment and brings it into focus. Focusing on the hips and spine lengthening and squaring will bring a sense of lightness and ease.
Baddha Ardha matsyendrasana – Half-Bound Lord of the Fishes pose.
The hands can be placed in between the thighs or on the shin. Both variations are important because the shoulders can easily be pulled too far by strong legs or knees.
It is important to protect the body by first extending the spine and then twisting it before the arms are bent. This way, the body will be prepared for a gentle pull rather than a forced bind.
Kasyapasana – Half Lotus Side Plank with Balance Devoted to Kasyapa
To balance, let the drishti start looking down. Then, gradually work up to gazing upwards. To learn this asana, it is important to break it into smaller pieces. First, create a solid side plank, then play with the full Lotus binding while seated and standing. Finally, work towards a bound half-lotus side plank.
You can get yourself into a jam, and you can also create your own! I hope you enjoy these six bound variations of popular yoga poses. Please share with me any other determined variations you like.
