Moola Bandha - the Master Key is for those dedicated yoga practitioners researching for the master key to unlock the abode of maha kundalini. Little has been written about the ancient practice of bandha, which is regarded as an important aspect of both hatha and kundalini yoga. Moola Bandha is a simple yet dynamic practice with profound physical, mental and spiritual benefits for the practitioner.

The text focuses on the theory and practice of bandha. The physical, pranic and psychotherapeutic effects are explored, including the relationship between moola bandha and acupuncture. A concise practical section includes both preliminary practices and advanced techniques to enable the practitioner to pursue this sadhana to the utmost, thus awakening the primal energy within. Includes the drawings and diagrams.

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The author of this tome, Swami Buddhananda, is a former physician and psychiatrist. Realising the limitations of traditional pyschotherapy and western medicine, Swami Buddhananda began a decade-spanning search for a more widely-available, practical and effective method to reintegrate the body, mind and spirit of his patients and a suffering and benighted humankind.

Experimenting with a wide range of western and eastern-derived therapies including the techniques of acupuncture, manipulative therapy and herbal medicine, his quest culminated in his discovery of yoga and its healing powers. This little volume is one of the results of that quest.

Moola bandha (the "perineal lock") is a yogic technique intended to manipulate the flow of energies in the pranic body by closing off their nethermost channel in the Moolachakra region, via a dilation and contraction of the muscular structure around the perineum. This was one of the approaches taught by the author's guru, and prompted the author to undertake an intensive theoretical and clinical study on the practice, an important aspect of both hatha and kundalini yogas.

Moola bandha is a simple, easily learned yet powerful practice with a host of benefits - spiritual, mental and physical - for its practitioner. It is such a beneficial practice that one is left wondering at the reasons for the paucity of literature on the topic.

This book delineates the anatomical, physiological, endocrinological, neurological and psychic effects of Moola Bandha in clear, easily understood text supplemented where necessary by illustrations. Of particular interest to this reviewer was the attempt to relate the effects of Moola Bandha practice on the body with those of acupuncture, which chapter alone is worth the price of the book.

I ushesitatingly recommend Moola Bandha: The Master Key to every yoga student, practitioner and teacher and anyone with an interest in natural approaches to the healing of body, mind and spirit.

61 of 62 found the following review helpful:

A Little TreasureSep 28, 2000
By Frikaloopa
A very important book for Yoga practitioners in general and for Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga and Pranayama practitioners in particular.Clearly explains Moola Bandha, it's anatomical and physiological aspects as well as neurological and endocrinological viewpoints.It relates the bandhas to the chackras,to Kumbhakas and asanas and describes the pranic effects.It also has a big practice section, which after all is the heart of the matter.A must have for serious practitioners, who will probably find themselves returning to the pages of this small book very often.

31 of 32 found the following review helpful:

Excellent - suitable for all levels.May 02, 2001

This book is a gem... easy to use while doing the practise.. and a great reference for modifications to specific asanas.

Also, I found the comments provided for some poses to be especially helpfull - they are short and to the point.

10 of 10 found the following review helpful:

Appropriate for both the beginner and advanced yogi.Jan 03, 2009
By Teri Ciocco "rckwmn8"
This book is easily to read, but technical enough for the advanced yogi when it talks about the pranic effects of using moola bandha. The anatomical information regarding how to engage moola bandha properly was invaluable. Because of the intimate nature of engaging moola bandha, diagrams and written descriptions are invaluable. The diagrams also are included is various common poses. Contraindications and warnings regarding the use of Moola bandha are included.

9 of 9 found the following review helpful:

the key to unlocking your potentialMar 01, 2011
By Mahasri Yoga
Chela Buddhananda, also known as Swami Buddhananda, was one of the key master teachers at the Bihar School of Yoga. In this clear, concise, and significant book first published in 1978, Moola Bandha: The Master Key, lies the root of kundalini yoga, a part of tantra. Kundalini yoga and tantra are greatly misunderstood and there is much confusion in most books regarding moola (mula) bandha. This is a scientific and scholarly piece of work. There are step-by-step practices that accompany, support, and illustrate the theory.

The book explains the three locks or bandhas: jalandhara (throat compression), uddiyana (abdominal contraction), and moola (perineal contraction). It does this through the concept of a lock, its mechanics, and the physical effects on the body. The bandhas operate at the physiological, pranic, mental, and spiritual levels. There is a clear explanation of all these levels:

"The Sanskrit word moola (also written mula) means `root, firmly fixed, source or cause, basis, the foot, lowest part or bottom, foundation'. Bandha means `lock, restrain, shut or close'. Together the word moola and bandha refer to the contraction of the mooladhara chakra, the seat of kundalini. This contraction is triggered at the `root' of the spine or the trunk of the body, the perineum...

"The importance of moola bandha should not be underestimated for its perfection leads to a spontaneous realignment of the physical, mental and psychic bodies. The physical contraction of the perineum has the beneficial effects of: maintaining hormonal balance and stimulating and regulating the nerves that innervate the lower pelvic region, thereby regulating all the internal organs...

"As a mental relaxant, moola bandha has been found extremely useful in the treatment of such mental disorders as depression, neurosis, some phobias, hysteria, and mania...

"The effects of moola bandha on the pranic level are more pronounced than those on the physical and mental levels. It has a subtle yet powerful effect on the psychic body, acting as a trigger for the awakening of mooladhara chakra and kundalini... This means that moola bandha prepares one for true spiritual awakening. An aspiring sadhaka should treat moola bandha as part and parcel of his main sadhana."

Much confusion surrounds the correct way to perform moola bandha, which muscles are involved, and where they are located. This book clears all confusion. With clear diagrams and step-by-step instructions, anyone can follow the practices. It is an excellent resource for beginners as well as advanced practitioners. As a teacher of this caliber is hard to find, this book is most helpful.

According to this book, moola bandha is the key to unlocking one's potential and the path to spirituality.


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