In Sanskrit, "hasta" means "hand" and "bandha" means "lock". Working with Hasta Bandha adds a unique richness to an asana practice. It works with forces in opposition, utilizing a deeply grounded support through the hands along with an energetic expansion up the arms, to create a functional, structurally sound, and stable buoyancy in the body.
Anatomy of Hasta Bandha
Goals
Create even weight distribution throughout the hand
Build a strong foundation for vinyasas, inversions and arm balances
Prevent strain and injury of the wrist through structural integrity
Utilize the natural arch of the hand to create balance
Connect and ground the body to the earth through the fingertips and finger pads
Technique
Begin with hands placed on the ground, shoulder-width apart (in downward facing dog or table top)
Spread fingers wide and imagine the inner edge and outer edge of the wrist drawing away from one another
Firmly plant the fingertips and finger pads
Identify points of stability in the palms (base of the index finger, base of the pinky, base of the thumb)
Ground through the points of stability and engage the hand to draw them towards one another
Lift through the center of the palm and draw the energy upward