Antar-kumbhaka

Antar-kumbhaka

अन्तर्-कुम्भक, antar-kumbhaka

Internal (antar) retention of breath, that is, after inhalation, when air and prana remain "inside" the body. Antar-kumbhaka is associated with filling the body with energy, it increases the amount of prana and at some point, when there is enough energy, it will begin to transform. Usually, for the purpose of transforming prana, mula and jalandhara-bandhas are combined with antar-kumbhaka to redirect prana and apana towards each other.

Antar-kumbhaka is used in many pranayamas and mudras, representing the basic skill of holding the breath.