Understanding yoga a to z - "b" is for bandhas

so bandha means lock in sanscrit.
And what are we locking - well glad you asked. We are locking energy within the body, instead of letting it escape out of the body.
There are 3 primary bandha and also other secondary bandhas that can be utilised in your yoga practice.
The three primary bandhas are:

• mula bandha - the root lock that exists at the base of the spine near the perineum to catch energy as it flows down the body and shifts it back towards the torso. You can engage this bandha in standing and balancing poses, as well as backbends and forward bends.
• uddiyana bandha - or upward flying lock that exists from the base of the lungs/diaghpragm/belly button to the breastbone/collarbone and draws energy in and upwards. You can engage this bandha in twists,  backbends and pranayama (breath practice) 
• jalandhara bandha - the "net" lock that sits at the throat that 'catches' the rising energy and shifts it downwards back towards the torso. You can engage this bandha in backbends, and standing practices 

Secondary bandhas include:

• hasta bandha - hand lock. You engage this lock when you use your hands in poses eg anjali mudra, downward dog, warrior 1 & 3
• pada bandha - foot lock. You engage this lock when you use your feet in a pose eg standing and balancing poses especially
• armpit bandha. You engage this lock when you lift the arms or bring the arms next to the body
• knee bandha. You engage this lock when you kneel, lift your leg etc

Now also part of the bandha is the active and passive engagement of the bandha. We call this ha or tha bandha, but more of this in a future post.

For now, start to be aware of and understand more about these fantastic tools that can help deepen your practice.