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improves blood circulation to the whole trunk area and strengthens all the internal organs. Uddiyana bandha stimulates the solar plexus which has many subtle influences on the distribution of energy throughout the body. It creates a suction pressure which reverses the flow of the sub-pranas, apana and prana, uniting them with samana and stimulating manipura chakra. Then there is an explosion of subtle force which
travels upward through sushumna nadi. Practice note: Uddiyana bandha must always be practised on
an empty stomach and the bowels should also be empty.
Agnisar kriya is an excellent preparatory practice. Note: The Sanskrit word uddiyana means 'to rise up'or 'to fly upward'.
This practice is so-called because the physical lock applied to the body causes the diaphragm to rise towards the chest. Uddiyana is therefore often translated as the stomach lift. Another meaning is that the physical lock helps to direct prana into sushumna nadi so that it flows upward to sahasrara chakra.
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