Bandhas and the Body's Center (Energy Locks)

In Yoga, it refers to "energy locks" or "seals" formed by consciously contracting and engaging specific areas of the body to control and contain the flow of Prana (life force energy) internally.

It is the "root lock" achieved by contracting the perineum (pelvic floor muscles), preventing the downward flow of Apana (descending Prana) and directing energy upwards.

Uḍḍīyāna means "to fly up, to lift up," and Bandha means "to bind, to lock." It is a Prana (life force energy) lock performed after a complete exhalation, where the abdomen is drawn inward and upward, lifting the diaphragm into the rib cage.

Jālandhara means "holding the net" or "holding the brain," and Bandha means "to bind, to lock." It is a Prana (life force energy) lock where the chin is drawn towards the sternal notch, constricting the throat.

Mahā means "great," and Bandha means "lock" or "seal." Mahā Bandha is the simultaneous engagement of all three major Bandhas — Mūla Bandha (Root Lock), Uḍḍīyāna Bandha (Abdominal Lock), and Jālandhara Bandha (Chin Lock) — creating a unified seal throughout the entire length of the torso.

Yoga Mudrā is a meditative pose, often practiced in a seated position like Lotus Pose, where the practitioner folds forward to touch the forehead to the floor, symbolizing the union of individual consciousness with universal consciousness.

Central Axis refers to an imaginary vertical line running through the center of the body in Yoga.

"Core" in the yogic context refers not only to the physical center of the body, but to the energetic and subtle center from which all practice radiates.

Tanden is a term from traditional Japanese bodywork and East Asian philosophy, referring to an energy center deep in the lower abdomen, below the navel.

In Yoga, it is particularly used to refer to the physical and energetic "base" or "source," as in Mula Bandha (Root Lock) or Muladhara Chakra (Root Chakra).

Center of Gravity refers to the central point of the body's weight in Yoga.

Jālandhara carries two intertwined meanings in Sanskrit: "holding the net" (from jāla, net, and dhara, holding) — evoking the image of a net that captures and retains Prāṇa — and "holder of the brain's network" — referring to the complex web of nāḍīs (energy channels) and nerves converging in the throat and cervical region.