sanskrit
Mula Bandha
Definition
Mula Bandha — the "root lock" — is the practice of contracting the pelvic floor at the perineum, specifically the region between the genitals and the anus. It is the first and most foundational of the three main bandhas in hatha yoga, and is foundational to both Daoist sexual practice and tantric breathwork. In traditional description, mula bandha "seals" the base of the body, preventing prana from escaping downward and directing it upward through the central channel.
Functionally, mula bandha engages the levator ani and associated muscles of the pelvic floor. It is mechanically similar to a Kegel exercise but is typically performed in a more sustained, subtler way — less as a repetitive clench and more as a tonic uplift maintained through the breath cycle.
Where the word comes from
From Sanskrit mūla bandha (मूल बन्ध) — mūla (root, base, origin) + bandha (lock, bond, binding). The term appears in hatha yoga texts including the Hatha Yoga Pradipika (c. 15th century CE), which describes it as one of the principal bandhas and a key practice for directing apana vayu (the downward-moving prana) upward.
In Tantra Clinic practice
Mula Bandha is foundational across Tantra Clinic programs — particularly for premature ejaculation, erectile dysfunction, and pelvic-floor reconnection after numbness or trauma. We teach it in three stages: locating the correct muscles (perineum rather than buttocks or inner thighs), integrating the contraction with the breath cycle, and then eventually using a sustained light engagement as a background tone during arousal. The pelvic-floor strengthening effects are well-documented; the energetic effects described in classical texts are consistent with what practitioners report.