100 cycles of agnisara

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

Hi,

I often hear that 100 cycles of agnisara pranayam
are recommended for a good health. So does this
mean 100 cycles in a single session (in a single
kumbhak) or 100 cycles in total?

Also I would like to know if what is the maximum
number of total agnisara cycles that you have
heard of anybody doing? I mean total cycles
in a day not necessarily in a single session or
kumbhak.

Agnisara is supposed to increase life force , vitality.
It is the pranayam of manipur chakra (The solar
plexus). So practising agnisara increases digestive
fire and so causes more hunger. So I am just wondering
, hypothetically, if someone does 500 agnisara a day
what will happen to him? So please let me know your
experience if someone has practised like that.

Thanks,
Deepak

#2

Dear Deepak,

I’m afraid that this question will remain unanswered, so I will have a go at it.

The question is hard to answer, because there is an implied hypothesis behind it, namely “the more, the better” . In my opinion, this hypothesis is incorrect. A practice needs to be adapted to the individual depending on his/her current condition and objective for doing a particular practice.

[I]If [/I]a novice were capable of doing 500 rounds of agnisar kriya today, he would probably end up with a massive pitta imbalance. This is not recommended.

May I recommend Swami Satyananda’s “Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha” by the Bihar School of Yoga to you? This book lists the contra-indications first (high blood pressure, heart disease, peptic ulcer …). It then states that 3 rounds of 10 is sufficient in the beginning. One could gradually and slowly build up to to 3 rounds of 100. Gradually and slowly could mean months! For myself, I have never felt the urge to go beyond 3 rounds of 30 in the morning. And I was happy that a teacher demonstrated the procedure to me in person.

#3

Hi Wilem,

Thanks for your answer.

Well actually I did not have 'The more the better’
kind of thing in mind. I was curious to know if
someone has too done many cycles comfortably
and if so then the effect it had upon the person
doing it. I assumed that the person may have
reached to that number by the gradual practice
over a period of time. Anyway. My objective
behind doing agnisara is to increase vitality,
life force.

So please tell me how is your experience with
agnisara? Do you feel the vitality , life force,
energy that the yoga texts talk about in the
context of agnisara?

Thanks for recommending the book. I will try
to get hold of this.

Agnisara requires external breath retention
(bahya kumbhak). But I came across a
particular version of Agnisara coined by the
late Swami Rama which does not require
bahya kumbhak. I mean one need not hold
the bahya kubhak across several cycles.
First you exhale all the air then you push in
stomach (like in Uddiyan bandha) and then
you release it quickly and inhale. I am still
confused over his exact way of doing agnisara.
But surely he doesn’t ask for bahya kumbhak.
In fact he calls it "quick repeatations of uddiyan"
what we call agnisara. Quite confusing. Do you
have any idea about it?

But otherwise everywhere else the technique
of agnisara has pretty stable description.

Thanks,
Deepak

#4

Hello Deepak,

The proof of the pudding is in the eating. Your personal experience is much more important that what is written in books or whatever I may have experienced.

So, I’ll make you an offer. This offer is only valid if you are in good health and do not suffer from any of the contra-indications for agnisar kriya given in the book. (Otherwise, please consult a doctor and work under direct supervision of a yoga therapist or experienced yoga teacher.) Learn the correct technique for agnisar. Then, starting september 1, do three rounds of agnisar every morning before breakfast for 30 consecutive days. It does not matter how many cycles you do in each round, it could be 3,5,or 10. It is more important to avoid strain and to practice daily. If you like, keep a diary or make small notes in your agenda. I will do the same, and then we can compare notes at the end of the month.

For every yogic technique there are many variations. That is why it is best to learn yoga from one teacher or one school. This is especially true for pranayama. I have not heard of the variation you mention. The only thing I would like to point out that agnisar kriya is not the same as repeated uddiyana bandha. In agnisar, you pull the abdomen in towards the spine repeatedly. In uddiyana bandha it is “in and up”. The difference is important, because you do not want to strain your heart during the agnisar cycles. So “in” and NOT “in and up” for agnisar.

#5

Hi Willem, I am pushpendra and I am performing 5 cycles of Uddiyan bandh followed by 5 cycles of Agnisar kriya and about 30 in one cycle. and I am doing continuously since last 5 months

Few benefits I observed: Soft stomach, Constipation gone completely, easy to Digest, Uric acid level gone down from 7 to 5, Feeling more hungry. easy to clean stomach and more.

For Nauli Kriya, I am able to create madhya Nauli, but not able to create Vama and Dakshina and Not able to do Nauli Sanchalan.
How much time will it take to create Nauli Sanchalan.