Yoga Practice Name
Kaki Mudra
English Name
Crow's Beak
Yoga Practice Branch
Ashtang Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga
Yoga Practice Type
Hatha Yoga Category
Mudra
Steps and Description
- Sit in any comfortable meditation asana with the head and spine straight and the hands resting on the knees in either chin or jnana mudra.
- Close the eyes and relax the whole body for a few minutes. Open the eyes and perform nasikagra drishti by focusing both eyes on the nose tip.
- Try not to blink the eyes throughout this practice. Purse the lips forming a beak through which air may be inhaled.
- The tongue should be relaxed. Breathe in slowly and deeply through the pursed lips.
- At the end of inhalation close the lips and exhale slowly through the nose and relax.
Cautions and Limitations
- Kaki mudra should not be practised in a polluted atmosphere or in excessively cold weather because the normal filtering and air-conditioning function of the nose
is bypassed.
Contraindications
- People suffering from depression, low blood pressure and chronic constipation should avoid this practice.
General Benefits
- Kaki mudra cools the body and mind and soothes mental tensions, alleviating disorders such as high blood pressure.
- In addition to the benefits of nasikagra drishti, the act of pursing the lips in this practice, together with the contact of the indrawn air with the membranes of the mouth, stimulates digestive secretions aiding the digestive process generally.
- It also purifies the blood.
Benefits for Disease
Depression