Discover the diverse effects of tongue yoga

The stress of everyday life often leaves us feeling overwhelmed or particularly exhausted. Often, we even feel so psychologically stressed that the symptoms also manifest themselves physically. If this is the case for you, you should definitely find everyday techniques that support you in feeling completely comfortable in your body. In this article, we'll explain everything about tongue yoga and how you can use it for yourself.

What is a tongue mudra?

Various techniques can help you connect more with yourself and your inner self. One such technique is the so-called tongue mudra, where the focus is on your tongue. This is an exercise for awakening and directing your life energy – for greater well-being.

Mudras are specific postures of your body or hands that help focus energy. They are an important part of Kundalini Yoga. Bandhas , on the other hand, are postures or locks that help store life force in your body or certain centers.

The tongue mudras are among the small mudras, which are divided into different types.

What tongue mudras are there?

If you would like to integrate this technique into your everyday life, you should be aware of the variety and the particularly large selection of different tongue mudras.

a) Small Khechari Mudra, also known as Tongue Khechari

For this technique, sit on your yoga cushion and breathe deeply. Arrive in this space and place your tongue back. The tip of your tongue should be moved all the way back to the soft part of your palate. You'll find this technique in Hatha Yoga practice.

What's special about this technique is that it not only stimulates your throat chakra, but also your third-eye chakra and crown chakra. So, if you have problems with the flow of energy in the upper chakras, this exercise is ideal for that. To intensify the practice, you can focus on your third eye during the exercise. Observe how you feel after performing the technique and whether you can better perceive the flow of energy in your body.

If you want to intensify this practice, you can also practice the large Khechari mudra (one of the throat mudras). In this position, you not only retract your tongue but also tilt your head backward.

Important to know:

• This technique paves the way for you to get to know yourself better and to connect more easily with the wisdom of your divinity (through the opening of the upper chakras).
• You should incorporate this exercise regularly into your daily routine (whether during breaks, meditation, yoga sessions, etc.).
• Keep checking back and observing how this technique affects your health.

b) Jihva Bandha

In this mudra, you place the tip of your tongue against your upper incisors. The advantage of this position is that no air escapes, and the energy flows only upwards, not downwards. This technique also stimulates the throat chakra, the brow chakra, and the crown chakra.

Practice as follows:

• Sit upright on your yoga mat and exhale. As you inhale, take in a large amount of air and hold it.
• Place the tip/top of your tongue on the roof of your mouth and suck it back a little.
• The throat is slightly constricted (roughly like swallowing). Hold this position for as long as you want to hold your breath.
• Practice this technique several times and see how it affects you. If you notice a difference over time, you can use it whenever you need to hold your breath.

c) Nabho Mudra

This is the so-called Sky Mudra. This technique involves raising your tongue and touching certain points on the roof of your mouth.

A distinction is made between the following mudras:

• Front Nabho Mudra : This activates the brow chakra. You'll find this point about one centimeter in front of your front teeth. Experiment a bit until you find the spot—the goal should be to be able to perceive your third eye when touching this point.
• Back Nabho Mudra : This activates your throat chakra and is also called Khechari Mudra (see above).
• Middle/Upper Nabho Mudra : If you want to stimulate the crown chakra, this technique is perfect. To do this, press the tip of your tongue vertically upwards into the center of your palate. Keep trying until you feel it. If it doesn't work at all, that's okay; try again later.

If you would like to practice further, there are more mudras for you:

• Left Nabho Mudra (this technique helps you open the right nostril. To do this, place the tip of your tongue to the left of the roof of your mouth)
• Right Nabho Mudra (helps to open your left nostril by touching the right part of the palate with the tip of your tongue)
• Dynamic Nabho Mudra (here your tongue touches the entire palate to open all three chakras)

Important to know...

These are valuable exercises that you can incorporate into your daily routine, similar to breathing techniques. Practice regularly to achieve lasting results.

If you don't feel everything right away, that's perfectly okay and normal. Keep practicing and be patient.

Which tongue mudra is your favorite? What effects does it produce?