In Sanskrit, Tadaga means water body or water pot-like structure, similar to pond or lake. This gesture is one of the Kaya mudras. We perform postural corrections and concentrate on breathing. Any kind of correction is required for our posture can be accomplished in Tadagi mudra.
Tadagi Mudra is found in Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Gheranda Samhita, etc. ancient books. This mudra is practiced to maintain a fit and healthy body to cure indigestion. It is also called barreled abdomen mudra. In this mudra, we execute our abdomen as a barrel-shaped abdomen.
Table of Contents
The Yogic Philosophy of Tadagi Mudra
- Yogic Sense: Kaya Mudras (Postural Correction)
- Style: Hatha Yoga
- Chakras: Manipuraka
- Nadis: Ida, Pingala
- Physical Presence: Abdomen, Spine, Leg
- Strengthens: Digestive Organs, Life energy
- Duration: 15 – 20 Seconds / 5 – 6 Rounds
- Repetition: If Body Permits
It has a lot of similarities with paschimottasana. But it is not paschimottasana rather, it can be called Ardha paschimottasana. Here you are not touching your knee with your forehead.
Tadagi Mudra and “Pancha Vayus”
This mudra has many ancient yoga text references. It can be found in Gheranda Samhita to signify our digestion process and releasing Aprana or Apana and Samana Vayu. There are five types of vayus present inside our abdomen.
- Prana
- Aprana
- Samana
- Udana
- Vayana
Out of this, the oxygenation process and respiratory process are inherently associated with all these different types of vayus.
Benefits of Tadagi Mudra
There are many benefits of tadagi mudra.
- This mudra helps with any kind of abdominal structure problem.
- Sometimes people have issues of becoming straight, so the spinal position gets corrected with tadagi mudra.
- It helps with indigestion problems. For people who are suffering from gastric, or gastric ulcers or unwanted gas formed after having food tadagi mudra helps to release gas from the abdomen.
- Tadagi Mudra activates Manipuraka chakra aka solar plexus chakra.
- It helps reduce headaches and stress.
- It is a great mudra for improving lung function and the overall respiratory system.
- Tadagi mudra tones up the visceral areas and stimulates all the nerves associated with the viscera area.
Tadagi Mudra: Step-By-Step Instructions
- Sit comfortably in Dandasana or staff pose. Keep your hand, leg, muscles everything relaxed.
- Keep your spine and head straight and aligned. Place your hands over the knees.
- Keep breathing normally.
- Bend in front, holding your knees, and take deep breathing slowly.
- Keep inhaling to the full extent of your ribcage. At the same time pull your abdominal muscle inside or inward. Now you look like a barrel-shaped abdomen structure.
- Hold your breath for 10 seconds.
- Release your abdomen and slowly start exhaling.
- Keep breathing normal and relax all your body parts.
- Keep your posture the same after releasing abdomen. Once again practice and repeat the same for 4 -5 rounds of practice.
- Move forward holding your big toes with index middle and thumb fingers by both hands.
- Keep your head facing forward and relaxed. You can breathe in between once you master this mudra keep doing it a minimum of five times at one session.
Advance Variations of Tadagi Mudra
There are two variations of Tadagi mudra.
While you lie down – you can practice this while lying down bringing your leg in Ardha halasana posture. It’s not full halasana because you are doing it half halasana.
By doing half-moon posture you lie down but not here. Also, you are not touching your forehead with your knee to the knee rather you are just holding your big toe with the fingers same thing you can practice.
While you stand up – while you stand up, you are holding your hands to the waist and while exhaling by involving your rib cage and shrinking your abdomen like a pond structure in your abdomen.
How Long to Practice Tadagi Mudra
In this mudra, while you inhale take it deep breath and hold it for a minimum of 15 to 20 seconds or as much as possible for you. Exhale slowly and keep practicing for 5 – 7 rounds at a stretch for maximum improvement in your abdomen.
Therapeutic Applications of Tadagi Mudra
- Digestive Disorders
- Gastric Ulcer
- Gas problem
Mudras Related to Tadagi Mudra
Preparatory Mudra
Follow-up Mudra
Beginner’s Tip of Tadagi Mudra
For beginners practice deep breathing or any of the pranayama techniques like anulom vilom, vastrika, etc.
Contraindications and Cautions of Tadagi Mudra
- If you have a recent operation in your abdomen or any portion of the chest avoid practicing this mudra
- If you have heart disease or you are suffering from high pressure do not practice this mudra.
- For pregnant women, it is not suggested to practice this mudra.
- People who have hernia disease please do not practice this mudra.
- For getting the maximum benefit you can practice paschimottasana before you practice tadagi mudra. Keep breathing normally.
FAQ’s on Tadagi Mudra
Is Tadagi Mudra another variation of paschimottanasana?
It is pre – posture of paschimottasana. You can practice Tadagi mudra then practice paschimottasana. This helps in stretching the spinal cord and bending it so that our forehead can touch the knee.
There are multiple benefits we achieve by performing both tadagi mudra as well as paschimottasana. But they are two different things.
Which Chakra becomes activated by practicing Tadagi mudra?
The solar plexus chakra or manipuraka chakra becomes activated while you practice tadagi mudra. It is one of the mudras through which our body maintains balance with the solar energy with body and mind combination.
Activating manipuraka chakra which helps to improve our life energy, willpower, and the never-ending dynamic force. This chakra helps to compose our inner power, actions, or our words the activities we perform and create.
What is the relation of Tadagi mudra with different elements that exist in the yogic system?
Everything inside our physical body is a kind of playfield of five elements within us. Regarding digestion in the physical body, tadagi mudra rejuvenates the body. It creates a balance between three basic entities. “Bata-Pitta-Kapha”.
Bata is air or space, Pitta means the fire and water mixture for digestion process and Kapha is mainly responsible for or lubrication in our body air passage. Here Bata is all the different types of spaces as a form of air created for various reasons.
Tadagi mudra helps to release unwanted air or gas stuck at the time of oxygenation or at the time of the digestion process. This helps to cure our respiratory system and digestive disorders.
Conclusion
With gradual practice, you can feel how different elements and entities play various roles within our physical senses and life energies. Keep practicing and all will be achieved. Cheers…
Further Reading
Have you enjoyed reading about “Top 7 Benefits of Tadagi Mudra | How to Do Tadagi Mudra”? Also, check various Topics on Yoga and related topics on Yoga. Relevant issues like Mudra and Asana also. Take a look at our collection of articles about Mudra, books as well as other categories in health & Inspiring Indians Life also. Alternatively, read our article about the top benefits & other interesting ideas for various vegetables in our daily groceries.