Vinyala

Pose sheet

Tongue Lock

Khecarī mudrāखेचरी मुद्रा

Sit upright, fold your tongue backward, and rest its underside against the roof of your mouth.

Open this pose in the 3D body

Steps

Support

Sitting bones and outer edges of both feet.

Hold

  1. Keep the tip back only as far as feels comfortable.
  2. Maintain light contact with the roof of your mouth.

Activate

  1. Close your eyes and relax your body.
  2. Fold your tongue upward and backward without forcing.
  3. Bring its underside against your palate; begin ujjāyī.

Release

  1. Unfold your tongue and relax your mouth, face, and throat.
  2. Repeat after resting your tongue.
Breathing
Slow, deep nasal ujjāyī.
Gaze
Eyes closed.
Duration
5–10 minutes total; release your tongue when it becomes tired.

Adapt

Adaptations

  • Smaller rangeKeep the tip farther forward; maintain comfortable contact.
  • CushionRaise your hips on a cushion to sit upright.
  • ChairSit upright, feet supported and hands resting on your thighs.

Variations

  • Classical: tongue in the nasal cavity; gaze between the eyebrows.
  • Sit in Padmāsana or Siddhāsana with the same tongue position.

Signals of effort

  • Tongue folded with sustained contact against the palate.
  • Breathing with a soft throat sound during ujjāyī.