28Dec
Ashwini Mudra: What, Why and How
One of Tantra Yoga’s most celebrated mudras, is Ashwini Mudra, literally meaning “Horse Gesture Pose.” Most of us don’t pay much attention to a horse’s pooping mechanism, but this is where te mudra gets the name from. It resembles the strong sphincter movement, immediately after evacuation of its bowels.
The mudra is performed by contracting the sphincter muscle of the anus in a rhythmic way. The purpose of doing so, would be to direct life force energy, called prana, upward through the shushumna channel, central to the spine. This is a powerful pump and effective as a beginners technique.
This technique is preferred to break through strong energetic barriers towards the upper energy centers. Chances of you benefiting from this mudra is high if you sit a lot, or find that you store a lot of tension in your buttocks. Most people do, as the gluteus muscles of the buttocks are the biggest muscles in the body, which makes it the biggest potential storehouse for emotions. Read more on how the body stores emotions in some of my other posts.
This mudra generates intense energy in the pelvis. Once this enegy is released, it shoots up the spine, breaking through barriers and restrictions.
It is known that this mudra mainly reaches the Manipura Chakra, the center of self-confidence, assertion and personal power.
An excellent asana to practice this mudra with is the shoulder stand, which activates the Throat Chakra and thyroid glands.
Benefits of this mudra directly include:
Correcting digestive imbalance and constipation.
Combats stress and depression.
Activates kundalini energy.
Prevents and combats hair loss.
Slows down aging, grey hair and baldness.
Remedies joint pain.
It controls high blood pressure.
A wonderful remedy to control anxiety.
Promotes prostate health through toning of the pelvic muscles.
Promotes sexual health and ability to activate sexual energy.
Prepares body for prostate massage.
Prepares the body for non-ejaculatory orgasm.
Effective in preventing hemorrhoids
Wonderful remedy to uterus and rectum prolapse
How to practice.
The basics of this practice, is to contract the anal sphincter muscle rhythmically. Usually, it is synchronized to slow breathing, while holding the contraction for a few seconds at the top of an inhalation. A major goal of the practice is to develop sensitivity as to the movement of energy up the spine, although, this naturally comes with time and patience. This mudra can be applied as a stand-alone routine, after your asana practice. Alternatively, combining the mudra with yoga asanas is a wonderful enhancement to keeping your practice alive and fun.
An excellent asana to practice this mudra with is the shoulder stand, which activates the Throat Chakra and thyroid glands.
PRECAUTIONS & CONTRAINDICATIONS:
Any women suffering from severe problems of the uterus should not practice this asana. Should be avoided during pregnancy and menstruation, high blood pressure and brain diseases. Should be avoided if suffering from an enlarged thyroid, spleen or liver as well as cervical spondylitis, slipped disc, headache and weak blood vessels in the eyes.