VIPAREETA KARANI MUDRA (Reversing Attitude)

 VIPAREETA KARANI MUDRA (Reversing Attitude)

There is a wonderful means by which the nectar is averted from falling into the opening of the sun. This is obtained by the guru’s instructions and not fromthe hundreds of shastras (treatises). With the navel region above and the palate below, the sun is above and themoon below. It is called vipareeta karani, the reversing process. When given by the guru’s instructions it is fruitful (78-79).

Through the practice of vipareeta karani mudra we are directly concerned with reversing the flow of a fluid from the brain center. The process is reversed by reversing the natural upright body position. The force of gravity naturally pulls all body fluids down to the lower parts.

By inverting the body so that the head is down and the feet are up, all the fluids flow back towards the head without undue force or pressure. There are various asanas which can also effect this, but the two most effective are vipareeta karani and sirshasana. However, the effects of vipareeta karani differ from sirshasana as it creates pressure in the throat which stimulates the thyroid and awakens vishuddhi chakra. Sirshasana directly affects the cerebrum and sahasrara chakra. Vipareeta is also a simpler posture than sirshasana but it should be learned from the guru directly.

The practice of vipareeta karani is similar to the shoulder stand, sarvangasana. The major difference is the angle of the back to the floor. In sarvangasana the back and legs should be perpendicular; in vipareetakarani the back is maintained at a forty-five degree angle to the floor andlegs. This means the throat is not completely blocked and allows the flow of blood to the brain. 

Technique

Stage 1: Lie in a relaxed supine position on a blanket, i.e. shavasana. Then bring the legs together, palms of the hands on the floor beside the body.

Raise the legs, bringing them a little behind the head so that the back rises, and support the back with the hands. Raise the legs in the air, feet towards the ceiling, not pointed, making the back at a forty-five degree angle to the floor.

Support the lower back with the hands, keeping the elbows behind on the floor. The hands can be adjusted so that you are steady. Either they should hold the buttocks or the sides of the waist.

Remain in the position as long as possible, breathing normally. Concentrate on the throat center. When you come out of the position, slowly lower the back onto thefloor, keeping the legs raised.

Keep the palms of the hands on the ground and slowly lower the legs, keeping them straight.

If this is too strenuous, bend the knees to the chest and place the solesof the feet on the floor, then slide the legs onto the ground. Completely relax the body in shavasana.

Stage 2: Practice stage 1 and include ujjayi pranayama in the final position.

Stage 3: Practice stage 2 and include khechari mudra with ujjayi pranayama.

This practice is more powerful when ujjayi and khechari are utilized. In kriya yoga the practice becomes more effective by utilizing concentration. While inhaling, visualize that a hot fluid is being drawnup from the navel into the throat. Retain the breath for a second or two while experiencing this hot fluid becoming cool. When it becomes icycold, exhale the fluid up to bindu and on to sahasrara. Again bring theawareness back down to the navel and inhale in the same way. This isrepeated twenty-one times.

Benefits

It alleviates stress, enhances self-healing, and aids in better circulation, making it beneficial for those with low blood pressure or veins related issues. This pose also eases tension in the lower back and hamstrings, reducing muscle cramps and headaches by improving blood flow and relaxing neck and back muscles.

Another important but largely unknown benefit of raising the legs whilst resting is the ability to stimulate the glymphatic system. This system is in charge of effectively ‘sweeping away’ the bacteria that the lymphatic system has filtered, so it serves as an important second step of ridding the body of unwanted pathogens.