Khechari mudra and kaki mudra are yoga practices involving tongue and mouth positions. Khechari mudra involves folding the tongue back and holding it in place to stimulate glands and chakra points, reducing hunger and thirst. Kaki mudra involves inhaling through pursed lips like a crow's beak to cool the body and mind while focusing on the nose tip. Both practices have benefits like inner calm, vitality, healing, and stimulating prana, but require careful practice without straining.

1. khechari mudra ,kaki mudra
PRESENTED BY
Ras SATHISH

2. KHECHARI MUDRA
The word khechari comes from the two Sanskrit roots khe
meaning 'sky' and chary a meaning 'one who moves'.
* Khechari mudra is associated with amrita, the nectar or elixir of
life which is secreted from bindu, a point situated at the posterior
fontanel, and then collected at vishuddhi chakra .
*Perfection of this practice enables the yogi to trap the
descending drops of amrita at vishuddhi, overcoming hunger and
thirst, and rejuvenating the entire body.
*For additional information on khechari mudra see the Bihar
School of Yoga publications Yoga Darshan and Hatha Yoga
Pradipika.

4. Khechari Mudra (tongue lock) :
*Sit in any comfortable meditation pose, preferably padmasana or
siddha/siddha yoni asana, with the head and spine straight and
the hands in chin or jnana mudra.
*Relax the whole body and close the eyes.
*Fold the tongue upward and backward so that the lower surface
lies in contact with the upper palate.
*Stretch the tip of the tongue backward as far as is comfortable.
*Do not strain.
*Perform ujjayi pranayama. Breathe slowly and deeply.
*Hold for as long as possible.
*At first there may be some discomfort and ujjayi pranayama
may irritate the throat, but with practice it will become more
comfortable.
*When the tongue becomes tired, relax it and then repeat the
practice.

6. Breathing:
Gradually reduce the respiration rate over a period
of months until the number of breaths per minute is 5 or 6. This
may be reduced further under expert guidance.
Duration:
*Practise for 5 to 10 minutes. Khechari mudra may also be
performed with other yoga practices.
Awareness: Physical - at the throat.
Spiritual - at vishuddhi chakra. The awareness will also
change depending on the meditation practice being performed.
Precaution:
Discontinue this mudra if a bitter secretion is tasted.
Such a secretion is a sign of toxins in the system
Contra-indications:
*Tongue ulcers
* common mouth ailments

8. Benefits:
*Khechari mudra stimulates a number of pressure points located
in the back of the mouth and the nasal cavity.
*These points influence the whole body. A number of glands are
also massaged, stimulating the secretion of certain hormones
and of saliva.
•This practice reduces the sensations of hunger and thirst, and
induces a state of inner calm and stillness. It preserves the vitality
of the body and is especially beneficial for inner healing.
*Ultimately, this mudra has the potential to stimulate prana and
awaken kundalini shakthi.

9. kaki mudra :
:*The word kaki means 'crow'. Kaki mudra is so called because
during inhalation the mouth is shaped like a crow's beak.
• It is claimed that regular practice of this mudra leads to the
diseasefree, long life that is associated with the crow.
*This mudra is also considered to be a pranayama practice
because of its close similarity to sheetali and sheetkari
pranayamas.

11. KAKI MUDRA :
Kaki Mudra (the crow's beak) :
*Sit in any comfortable meditation asana with the head and spine
straight and the hands resting on the knees in either chin or jnana
mudra.
*Close the eyes and relax the whole body for a few minutes.
*Open the eyes and perform nasikagra drishti by focusing both
eyes on the nosetip.
*Try not to blink the eyes throughout this practice. Purse the lips,
forming a beak through which air may be inhaled.
*The tongue should be relaxed. Inhale slowly and deeply through
the pursed lips.
*At the end of inhalation close the lips and exhale slowly through
the nose. Repeat the process for 3 to 5 minutes.

12. Awareness:
*On the flow and sound of the breath, and on the nosetip.
Sequence:
*This mudra is a cooling practice. It balances the temperature of
the body when performed after heating pranayamas.
Time of practice:
• It may be performed at any time of day, although it is best
performed early in the morning or late at night.
*It should not be performed in cold weather.
Precautions:
*Kaki mudra should not be practised in a polluted atmosphere or
in excessively cold weather because the normal filtering and
air-conditioning function of the nose is bypassed.
*Care should be taken not to strain the eyes.

13. Contra-indications:
*People suffering from depression, glaucoma, low blood pressure
or chronic constipation should avoid this practice.
*People suffering from diabetic retinopathy or those who have just
had cataract surgery, lens implant or other eye operations, should
not perform this practice without the guidance of a competent
teacher.
Benefits:
*Kaki mudra cools the body and mind and soothes mental
tensions.
*In addition to the benefits of nasikagra drishti, the act of pursing
the lips in this practice, together with the contact of the indrawn
air with the membranes of the mouth, stimulates digestive
secretions, aiding the digestive process generally.

15. Practice note:
*The eyes must be kept open throughout the practice and
nasikagra drishti should be continuous.
• If the eyes become tired, relax them for as long as necessary
before recommencing the practice.