Sahajoli Mudra – Meaning, Procedure, Benefits, Effect on Doshas

By Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa, B.A.M.S

Sahajoli Mudra is practiced by women and is said to be a representative and counterpart of Vajroli gesture practiced by men. Vajroli and Sahajoli are practiced in similar way in men and women respectively. They bestow similar benefits. In male, the testes will be pulled up slightly while in the female, the labia will move slightly during the practice.
Read – Mudra – The Science Of Gesture: Benefits, Types, How To Practice

It is a method in which the practicing women would contract their urinary passages so as to activate the svadishtana chakra, the energy center. This would redirect their sexual energy to spiritual practices. When the mentioned chakra is activated, the inner acceptance, focus, creativity, productivity and healthy sexuality are optimized. It helps in promoting brahmacharya.

Sahajoli = sahaj i.e. spontaneous + oil i.e. cast up
Mudra = gesture / mark / seal / posture
Read – Chakra – Kundalini: Introduction, Meaning, Types, Location, Ayurveda View

Preparation

Sahajoli, like Vajroli gesture should be practiced under the supervision and guidance of an expert yogi or mudra specialist. These are higher forms of mudra and can be practiced only by yogis who have mastered advanced yoga, mudra and tantra techniques. One has to master kumbhaka, uddiyana bandha and siddhasana before practicing sahajoli gesture.

Below mentioned asanas also should be mastered beforehand –

• Vajrasana – diamond pose
• Supta vajrasana – reclined thunderbolt pose
• Shalabhasana – locust pose and
• Paschimottasana – seated forward bend pose
  Read – Yogasana – Spiritual, Physical And Mental Benefits, Classification

These poses help gain automatic contraction on genital region.

When you practice ‘seated forward bend pose’ and hold it for several minutes, the body gets prepared for uddiyana bandha i.e. abdominal lock. In siddhasana i.e. accomplished pose, the practitioner presses the perineum with the heel. It causes slight contraction of muladhara i.e. root chakra and vajra nadi automatically. Practicing and mastering shirshasana i.e. headstand beforehand is also helpful since it enables good blood circulation in the brain.

Procedure

Sahajoli gesture is practiced in similar way as Vajroli gesture is practiced in men. Instead of contraction of urogenital muscles around the base of penis as described in vajroli, the woman needs to contract her vaginal walls and uterine muscles in sahajoli.
Read – Akasha Mudra For Body Stability, Vata Balance

The muscles need to be contracted inwards and upwards. Later the muscles should be released. While holding her breath, the vaginal muscles and urethra are contracted and drawn up. The contractions will be the same as when you are trying to hold back from urinating. At this time, the uterus, bladder and kidneys are also contracted.

In the male, the testes will move up slightly while in women i.e. in sahajoli the labia will move while applying this mudra.

Practice this as many rounds of this contraction and relaxation as per your capacity.

In advanced stages, women can also suck the fluids in through their urethra, into their urinary bladder. The length of the catheter used in females is smaller than that used in men. The advanced yogini can suck up male fluids during practice.
Read – Tips To Enhance Effect Of Mudra, 5 Mudra Groups, Rules Of Hasta Mudra

She may even practice Sahajoli with other Hatha Yoga practices like Amaroli. This will enable the yogini i.e. female yogi to stop her ovulation and the menstrual cycle at her will, before menopause. This will enable her to preserve all her sexual energy and redirect it for a higher evolutionary purpose.

After practicing this gesture for 5-15 minutes, she can retain the tantric orgasm for the same time period. By retaining this experience, she can reverse the flow of energy. At this point, she transcends normal consciousness and sees the light. This is when the yogini enters a deep state of dhyana.
Read – Hatha Yoga and Shat Karmas: Benefits, Precautions

Time and duration

• The mudra is best when practiced early in the morning. It should be done on empty stomach to tap optimum benefits.
• This gesture can be performed for a minimum of 10-15 rounds.

Benefits

• Tones up the uro-genital region in women and also regulates their functions
• Useful in incontinence of urine and urinary infections
• Treats sexual dysfunctions comprehensively
• Helps in regularizing the menstrual flow
• Helps in regulating the mechanism of ovulation
• Enhances the health of pelvic floor which is of utmost importance for vitality of sexual and sensual energy
• Stimulates the flow of energy to the sexual organs
• Helps to overcome psychosexual conflicts and unwanted sexual thoughts
• Corrects uterine prolapse
  Read – Physiology Of Menstruation, Menstrual Cycle – Ayurvedic Perspective

Effect on Chakras

This gesture has a strong influence on Muladhara Chakra. The sexual energy is drawn up until the crown chakra. Thus it can be inferred that sahajoli has strong influence in balancing all chakras.

Impact on the Doshas and tissues

Seeing the benefits of Sahajoli gesture, the Tridosha balancing effect of this gesture can be inferred. It mainly controls and balances the functions of apana vayu. By doing so, it controls the menstruation and ovulation in women. Coming to the tissues, this gesture strengthens the muscles of the female reproductive system, urinary system and pelvis. Overall it contributes towards maintenance of body-mind-sensual health and to gain optimum immunity.
Click to Consult Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ayu) – Skype