Question

Can you tell me the number of repetitions as far as high anyone can go and the brief procedure about Ashwini mudra? Swami Rama said that no exercise compensates for this (Ashwini mudra) exercise bladder muscles get exercised sphincter muscles exercised and by this practice alone you can get control over your autonomic nervous system. Can you explain how Ashwini mudra can lead me to get control over my automatic nervous system? I heard that someone who was practicing Ashwini mudra wrote his experience like that (I have practiced ashwini mudra quite often and hence now I’m constantly falling sick because of the increase in body heat, a couple of months back I was admitted because of the same reason, my body generates too much heat, the apana remains in my stomach it was trying to come out resulting in vomiting, excessive vomiting caused dehydration and I was admitted hence I need to know how to overcome this heat, I’m still facing the same problem even today ). So if it is true that Ashwini mudra generates so much heat if yes then how to cool down or overcome it?

Answers

Stephen Parker (Stoma) and Carolyn Hume have responded to this question.

From Stephen Parker (Stoma)

As with most of the mudrās, the physical practice of them only prepares the way for the subtle energetic practice. It prepares the physical body to respond to the movement of prana in the subtle body. The goal here is to deepen and refine your breath awareness so that you mentally open the Sushumnā nādī and when the prāna begins to flow upward through Sushumnā, the aśvinī-mudrā and the mūla-bandha become automatic. Only then should one practice all the time. Prior to that, doing the practice physically will simply generate heat.

Balancing the heat you have generated so far requires intensive nādi-śodhana prānāyāma without any retention and intentional stimulation of idā-nādī either through breath awareness or through lying on the right side with breath awareness. (The same effect can also be obtained by using a rolled towel under the right armpit with breath awareness.)

The middle path of practice is just as important in yoga as it is in Buddhism. Vyāsa’s commentary on Patañjali cautions against practicing with such intensity that you unbalance the prāna-vāyus and the dhātus and thereby cause disease in the physical body.

From Carolyn Hume

In addition to what Stoma has written, perhaps you would want to have a broader understanding of Swami Rama’s teachings. This is a reading list put together by Swami Veda Bharati. I do not know how thoroughly you have studied these teachings; perhaps you already have a strong familiarity with them. Also, you may want to consider taking some classes from qualified teachers within our tradition.

Editor’s Note

If you have any questions about your spiritual practice, you may write to the AHYMSIN Spiritual Committee at adhyatmasamiti@gmail.com.