Ashwini Mudra (Horse Gesture): Steps, Benefits & More

Ashwini Mudra is a yoga practice, and like many yoga techniques, it’s believed to have various benefits for both physical and mental health.

Ashwini Mudra specifically involves the contraction of the anal sphincter muscles. It’s often practiced in conjunction with other yoga poses and breathing exercises.

According to sages, the position of posture and pranayama is called mudra. In yoga, mudras are considered more than asanas and pranayama.

Ashwini is a Sanskrit word, which means the whimper or gesture of the horse.

When women do this practice, it is called Ashwani mudra. And when this practice is done by a man, then it is called Vajroli Mudra.

About Ashwini Mudra

Ashwini Mudra

Horse + Gesture

“Ashwa, meaning “horse,” and mudra, meaning “gesture” or “seal.”

Talking about Ashwini Mudra, the way a horse repeatedly contracts and loosens its anus immediately after defecation, the process of contracting and expanding the anus is called Ashwini Mudra. This Mudra is the secret of so much strength and agility in a horse.

Ashwini means horse, to perform actions like a horse. The postures are related to the body’s own functioning organs and nerves.

Meaning this pose is derived from the lifestyle of the horse to get horse-like agility, strength, and energy. The horse is an indicator of power, so the horsepower unit of the battery consumed is also kept.

The same posture of narrowing and dropping of the anus is called Ashwani-Vajroli mudra.

Horses repeatedly constrict the stool gate after having a bowel movement. The secret of their strength is hidden in this process of shrinking the stool inside and then normalizing it.

A Specialty of Ashwini Mudra

Initially, Ashwini mudra was not a normal pose, but a hatha yoga posture. Which was used to awaken the Kundalini, make semen upward, spiritual energy, work energy and store it.

But slowly, in addition to its spiritual benefits, many benefits related to physical life also emerged. Due to its simplicity, countless advantages, and the global expansion of yoga, Ashwini mudra spread. And today Ashwini mudra has taken a very popular form in the world of yoga.

Details of this mudra are also found in our texts.

In the following article, we will learn about Ashwini Mudra i.e. how to do this yoga mudra and the benefits from it.

How To Do Ashwini Mudra

There are some simple steps that will explain how to do this Ashwini Mudra.

Find a Comfortable Posture: Begin by sitting in a comfortable seating posture. You can choose any posture that feels comfortable to you, such as Padmasana (Lotus Pose), Siddhasana (Perfect Pose), Swastikasana (Auspicious Pose), Vajrasana (Thunderbolt Pose), or any other posture that allows you to sit comfortably for an extended period.

Hand Placement: Place your hands on your thighs or knees with palms facing upwards. This gesture signifies openness and receptivity to the practice.

Close Your Eyes and Breathe: Close your eyes gently and take a few deep breaths, bringing your awareness to the rhythm of your breathing. This helps in calming the mind and preparing for the practice.

Engage in the Mudra: Now, as you exhale, contract the muscles of your anal sphincter and pelvic floor (the area between the anus and genitals) inward, as if you are trying to pull them upwards towards your abdomen. Hold this contraction for 1-2 seconds.

Release and Repeat: After holding the contraction briefly, release the muscles and relax for a moment. Then, repeat the process. Continue to alternate between contracting and releasing the muscles with each exhalation.

Practice with Breath Retention (Optional): Once you feel comfortable with the basic practice, you can gradually incorporate breath retention (Kumbhak). To do this, after exhaling and contracting the muscles, hold your breath for a few seconds (as long as comfortable) before inhaling again. Be gentle and gradual in your practise, ensuring not to strain yourself.

Repeat and Extend: Practice Ashwini Mudra for as long as feels comfortable for you. Start with a few minutes and gradually increase the duration as you build strength with the practice.

Listen to Your Body: As with any yoga practice, listen to your body and not force anything beyond your comfort level. If you experience any discomfort or strain, ease off or stop the practice altogether.

Benefits Of Ashwini Mudra

Mudra is very different and initially you might hesitate to do it or find it strange, but with regular practice all the diseases of the anus (like piles, hemorrhoids, etc.) are cured and body strength also increases.

• Regular practice of Ashwini Mudra gives a lot of energy, agility and strength to the practitioner of any age. Immunity increases and the quality of life also improves.

• This is an anti-gravity exercise, it increases the energy that drives the body. All the organs get strength, body strength increases, impotence goes away and masculine power starts increasing.

• This mudra also helps in curing chronic piles, hemorrhoids.

• Additionally, this mudra helps in releasing negative emotions like anger, sadness or fear.

• This mudra also removes toxins from the body.

• It removes all the serious and common problems related to reproduction, bladder of both male and female like nocturnal emission, thinning of semen, premature ejaculation, looseness of penis, excessive sexual desire, harassment, irregular sexual disease of women, looseness of vagina, impotence, infertility etc.

• It is believed that Kundalini is also awakened by this mudra.

• Ashwini mudra helps yogis to maintain celibacy.

Conclusion

Ashwini mudra is a practice in hatha yoga, and it’s often associated with techniques to awaken Kundalini energy and control prana (life force). This mudra involves contracting and releasing the anal sphincter muscles in a rhythmic manner.

It is believed to stimulate the flow of energy through the body and awaken dormant energy centers, including the muladhara chakra where kundalini energy resides.