Akunchana

Akunchana

"compression", "reduction", "bend"

Akunchana is most often mentioned in the texts of hatha-yoga when describing the technique of performing mudras, bandhas and other actions, for example, ashvini-mudra or agnisara-kriya, where akunchana is muscle contraction, and prasarana is muscle relaxation, unclenching.

According to “Siddha-siddhanta paddhati”, akunchana is one of the five states of vayu-tattva in its manifestation at the level of bhuta-pinda (individual body), the others are dhavana (action), bhramana (wandering), prasarana (spread), and nirodhana (restriction).