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This is post 2/3 of my multi-series blog where I dive deep into the abdominal vacuum, its orgins, and the future of it within bodybuilding. Check out the previous article here
Where did the vacuum come from and why was it so prevalent in Bodybuilding?
At surface level the vacuum is an aesthetic exercise. One that professional competitors train years to perfect. However, if you dig deeper you’ll find out that the abdominal vacuum was actually stolen
The Abdominal Vacuum Origins
The stomach vacuum is the process of being able to control your transverse abdominals, pulling your abdomen in and and up into your rib cage.
This process is also known as the Uddiyana Bandha within yoga. It is commonly performed by itself but more advanced practitioners practice with two other Bandhas, Mula Bandha, and Jalandhara Bandha, also known as the Tri Bandha which can be traced all the way back to mideval India in the 15th century.
Checkout the study on the Uddiyana Bandha here
These are very important in the practice of Pranayama and Asna in Yoga.
Jalandhara Bandha is a Sanskrit term that translates to “throat” for Jal and “lock” for Bandha
Mula Bandha means “root” lock. The practitioner needs to contract the perineum, or their kegel muscle which is said to help activate the Muladhara Chakra
and Uddiyana Bandha is the Abdominal Lock but translates to “flying upward lock” which creates a stomach vacuum to massage the internal organs and improve dijestion.
These Bandhas have physical and spiritual benefits to “help awaken the Kundalini energy and promote a sense of inner peace and Harmony”
Bandhas seem like positive and healthy exercises and allows one to ground themsleves with immense muscular control, which makes sense as to why bodybuilders perform the abdominal vacuum, but bodybuilders aren’t alone taking the the Uddiyana for other purposes.
So, Who else uses the this sacred performance for other means?
Belly Dancing and the Vacuum
Belly dancers take the Uddiyana to an entirely new level. The way they move the entire body and perform this intense movement in such fluidity is beyond me.
The training process is similar to how body builders practice their abdominal vacuum and yoga practitioners with their Uddiyana Bandhas.
Outside of performances, it is actually used in physcial therapy.
Hypopressive Exercises and the Vacuum
Hypopressive Exercises has been use in physical therapy to help heal or significantly decrease PFD (pelvic flood dysfunction). The hypoproessive exercises include both abdominal vacuums and the Mula Bandha techniques as it requires you to really focus on these muscles you typically wouldn’t know how to strengthen.
1992 was the start of something huge and terrifying for the abdominal vacuum, click here to find out more
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