The body lock
– BANDHAS
In yoga you work with both small and large muscles in the body. What may feel new and unfamiliar is that you must have contact with your inner, deeper abdominal muscles. In yoga this is called “root lock”—mula bandha—and “abdominal lock”—uddiyana bandha. These body locks steer the flow of energy in your body, and they also give the body good support when you move in harmony with your breathing. These locks must create an inner, rising energy that is your power and the center of your body. When you engage the root lock, you raise the perineum and all the small muscles at the base of the pelvis, and you keep the buttocks relaxed and feel an inner lift. It is a small movement. You then draw the deep abdominal muscles just below the navel inward and back toward your spine, almost as though to embrace your lower back. When these locks are engaged, the diaphragm is lifted up into the body so that your abdomen is completely still when you breathe. Instead it is your stomach and chest that accompany your breathing. When you engage your feet, by spreading your toes and feeling a lift in the arch, you automatically gain contact with your leg muscles, which also puts you in contact with the root and abdominal locks. If in the beginning it feels difficult to find the root and abdominal locks, it will suffice to concentrate on having stronger feet and stronger legs. What is important is that you feel a connection with the center of your body.
