7 Days 7 Mudras – Day 7 Namaskar Mudra

One of the powerful technologies I’ve learned is mudras. And I want share them with you because they are super-easy, you can do them anywhere and they work instantly. 

Mudras are a tool to create certain energies within the body. My next chakra series gives you an introduction into working with mudras in your everyday life, to increase vitality, instantly create calm and work with the multitudes of health giving effects mudras bring to your body, mind and spirit. 

The use of mudras, in the practice of yoga are a powerful tool for self-care and empowerment. With yoga the intention is to draw oneself inward. Mudras allow us to go inward and recharge our energy levels. The term mudra applies to the use of hand (also eye and full body) gestures that carry specific goals of channeling your body’s energy flow.

I like to think of it as our Sacred circuitry. 

Join me for a 7 week immersion into your sacred circuitry.

Check out the upcoming Power Mudra + Chakra Yoga series here

NAMASKAR MUDRA

Practising Namaskar Mudra is an excellent way to induce a meditative state of awareness. It is a gesture of reverence, benediction, salutation.

The practice of Namaskar Mudra brings an experience of unity, sacredness, wholeness, and fullness of life. You are unifying the divine feminine and divine masculine. It creates harmony, balance, silence, and peace of mind.

HOW TO DO THE NAMASKAR MUDRA

Sit cross-legged (or any easy seated position), bring the base of the palms together at the heart centre, Press the hands firmly but evenly against each other. Make sure that one hand (usually your right hand if you are right-handed, your left if left-handed) doesn’t dominate the other. If you find such imbalance, release the dominant hand slightly but don’t increase the pressure of the non-dominant hand.

Bow your head slightly, drawing the crease of the neck toward the center of your head. Lift your sternum into your thumbs and lengthen down along the back of the armpits, making the back elbows heavy.

Close your eyes and take several deep, long breaths.

MUDRA PRACTICE

Although mudras show immediate effects, most need time 30-45 minutes (this can be spread throughout the day) over an extended period of time.

Practising Namaskar Mudra is an excellent way to induce a meditative state of awareness. Start your practice sitting in meditation in Namaskar Mudra for 5 minutes.

You can also use this hand position in Tadasana prior to beginning the Sun Salutation sequence, contemplating the “sun” or light of awareness that resides in your heart.

Surya Namaskar, Salute to the Sun, or Sun Salutation, is a yoga practice incorporating a sequence of gracefully linked asanas or postures. It is best done early in the morning on an empty stomach.

Surya Namaskar practice video

BENEFITS

By doing the Namaskar Mudra (joining of palms), a greater level of Divine consciousness is absorbed into the body. All the elements are connected and balanced as well as balancing the masculine and feminine energies.

The practice of Namaskar Mudra brings an experience of unity, sacredness, wholeness, and fullness of life. You are unifying the divine feminine and divine masculine. It creates harmony, balance, silence, and peace of mind.

WHAT ARE MUDRAS AND WHY ARE THEY POWERFUL?

In Sanskrit, mudra means “seal”, “mark” or “gesture.” Mudras are gestures (often of the hands but in Sattva Yoga we also use mudras of the eyes and tongue, and other body techniques).

Mudras act as psychic energy seals that create energetic shifts in the mental, physical and energetic body through guiding the energetic flow and harnesssing the bodily reflex stimulus to the brain.

The tips of your fingers, crown of your head, and feet are where energy leaves your body. You can practice mudras to channel that energy back into your body.

THE ELEMENTS OF THE HAND

The hand has three gunas, or qualities, and every finger has its own energy and its own elements.

In yogic philosophy the three gunas, fundamental forces, are tamas, rajas, and sattva. They interact to create all of the known Universe (Prakriti), and can be increased or decreased by using mudras.

Sattva manifests as balance, inspiration, and knowledge of what is real. Tamas is a heavy, mindless energy that causes ignorance and inaction. Rajas is the energy of change, manifesting as passion, pain, desire, and effort, and it can lead you to sattva or tamas but is often characterized as attachment to outcomes and unsteadiness.

Your hand has each of these three guna characteristics, and each finger is associated with an element.

Thumb Divine activator, Agni (Fire), Manipura chakra

Index Finger Individual Soul (Jiva), Vaayu (Air), Anahata chakra

Middle Finger Sattva Guna (Purity/Light), Akasha (Ether/Space), Vissuddha chakra

Ring Finger Rajas Guna (Passion/Fire) Prithvi (Earth), Muladhara chakra

Little Finger Tamas Guna (Inertia/Darkness) Jal (Water), Swadisthana chakra

A MUDRA FOR EVERYTHING

You can use mudras to increase, decrease or stabilise the gunas and specific elements. Whatever you need in your life, there is a mudra for it!
Some mudras show immediate effects, yet most need time 30-45 minutes (can be spread throughout the day) over an extended period of time.
You may notice some of the names I use are different from what you may be used to. My teacher comes from the Himalayan yoga tradition and so I use the names as he teaches them. Teachers from other traditions may used varied terminology.

Mudras are a powerful component of Sattva Yoga as well as a technology you can use on their own.

Over the next 7 days I am going to share my favourite mudras with you. And talk about how mudras work and what they can do for you.

I recommend trying each mudra for a day and at the end of the 7 days, if you feel inspired, choosing a mudra to practice with daily for a 21 day meditation practice or sadhana.

Drop me a comment and let me know how you go. I love hearing stories of the effects of these subtle but powerful practices.

Hari om tat sat. Namaste. Blessings.

Christina at Raw Mojo

One of the powerful technologies I’ve learned is mudras. And I want share them with you because they are super-easy, you can do them anywhere and they work instantly. 

Mudras are a tool to create certain energies within the body. My next chakra series gives you an introduction into working with mudras in your everyday life, to increase vitality, instantly create calm and work with the multitudes of health giving effects mudras bring to your body, mind and spirit. 

The use of mudras, in the practice of yoga are a powerful tool for self-care and empowerment. With yoga the intention is to draw oneself inward. Mudras allow us to go inward and recharge our energy levels. The term mudra applies to the use of hand (also eye and full body) gestures that carry specific goals of channeling your body’s energy flow.

I like to think of it as our Sacred circuitry. 

Join me for a 7 week immersion into your sacred circuitry.

Check out the upcoming Power Mudra + Chakra Yoga series here

Check out upcoming Sattva Yoga and Chakradance classes here

Imagecredit: yogapedia.com

7 Days 7 Mudras – Day 6 Kamala Mudra

One of the powerful technologies I’ve learned is mudras. And I want share them with you because they are super-easy, you can do them anywhere and they work instantly. 

Mudras are a tool to create certain energies within the body. My next chakra series gives you an introduction into working with mudras in your everyday life, to increase vitality, instantly create calm and work with the multitudes of health giving effects mudras bring to your body, mind and spirit. 

The use of mudras, in the practice of yoga are a powerful tool for self-care and empowerment. With yoga the intention is to draw oneself inward. Mudras allow us to go inward and recharge our energy levels. The term mudra applies to the use of hand (also eye and full body) gestures that carry specific goals of channeling your body’s energy flow.

I like to think of it as our Sacred circuitry. 

Join me for a 7 week immersion into your sacred circuitry.

Check out the upcoming Power Mudra + Chakra Yoga series here

KAMALA MUDRA

The Kamala (lotus) Mudra opens the heart chakra and is a symbol of purity. A lotus flower sits on the surface of the pond, opening to the sun as its roots remain deeply embedded into the muddy bottom, holding it firm and strong. It is the symbol of light and beauty emerging from the darkness.

The Goddess Kamala is located in the heart chakra, the place of devotional worship. She is the image of the heart’s delight and the heart’s wisdom for perfect beauty and happiness. Visualise this perfect fulfilment as the Divine grace that naturally comes for the heart of all beings.

The message of the lotus mudra is to stay connected to your roots, open yourself to the light and realize that the greatest sense of steadiness in life is an open heart.

HOW TO DO THE KAMALA MUDRA

Sit cross-legged (or any easy seated position), bring the base of the palms together at the heart centre, touching the thumbs and pinky fingers together. Spread the rest of the fingers out like the lotus flower opening toward the sunlight. Close your eyes and take several deep, long breaths.

It is highly recommended to practice this mudra in a quiet setting while meditating and focusing on the breath. If possible, this should be done for 30 to 45 minutes a day, this can be broken down into shorter sets.

MUDRA PRACTICE

Although mudras show immediate effects, most need time 30-45 minutes (this can be spread throughout the day) over an extended period of time.

I recommend using this mudra in a meditation practice, either 30 minutes, two lots of 20 minutes, three lots of 15 minutes or five rounds of 5 minutes across the day.

BENEFITS

This mudra opens and cultivates heart chakra.

It symbolises purity, light and beauty emerging from the darkness.

After practising this mudra you should feel grounded and strong like a lotus flower, while opening your heart to the joys of life.

The Kamala Mudra drains out misunderstanding, helps to release tension, and is also practiced to enhance the fire element in the body. It is a great reminder of the beauty and grace that is within you and those around you.

You can use it for cultivating love and affection, to ease loneliness, and can also be practiced when one feels drained, exploited or misunderstood.

Take some time to open your heart.

Practising this mudra opens you to the love that is always available, deepening your capacity for compassion and detachment, increasing acceptance, surrender and trust.

WHAT ARE MUDRAS AND WHY ARE THEY POWERFUL?

In Sanskrit, mudra means “seal”, “mark” or “gesture.” Mudras are gestures (often of the hands but in Sattva Yoga we also use mudras of the eyes and tongue, and other body techniques).

Mudras act as psychic energy seals that create energetic shifts in the mental, physical and energetic body through guiding the energetic flow and harnesssing the bodily reflex stimulus to the brain.

The tips of your fingers, crown of your head, and feet are where energy leaves your body. You can practice mudras to channel that energy back into your body.

THE ELEMENTS OF THE HAND

The hand has three gunas, or qualities, and every finger has its own energy and its own elements.

In yogic philosophy the three gunas, fundamental forces, are tamas, rajas, and sattva. They interact to create all of the known Universe (Prakriti), and can be increased or decreased by using mudras.

Sattva manifests as balance, inspiration, and knowledge of what is real. Tamas is a heavy, mindless energy that causes ignorance and inaction. Rajas is the energy of change, manifesting as passion, pain, desire, and effort, and it can lead you to sattva or tamas but is often characterized as attachment to outcomes and unsteadiness.

Your hand has each of these three guna characteristics, and each finger is associated with an element.

Thumb Divine activator, Agni (Fire), Manipura chakra

Index Finger Individual Soul (Jiva), Vaayu (Air), Anahata chakra

Middle Finger Sattva Guna (Purity/Light), Akasha (Ether/Space), Vissuddha chakra

Ring Finger Rajas Guna (Passion/Fire) Prithvi (Earth), Muladhara chakra

Little Finger Tamas Guna (Inertia/Darkness) Jal (Water), Swadisthana chakra

A MUDRA FOR EVERYTHING

You can use mudras to increase, decrease or stabilise the gunas and specific elements. Whatever you need in your life, there is a mudra for it!
Some mudras show immediate effects, yet most need time 30-45 minutes (can be spread throughout the day) over an extended period of time.
You may notice some of the names I use are different from what you may be used to. My teacher comes from the Himalayan yoga tradition and so I use the names as he teaches them. Teachers from other traditions may used varied terminology.

Mudras are a powerful component of Sattva Yoga as well as a technology you can use on their own.

Over the next 7 days I am going to share my favourite mudras with you. And talk about how mudras work and what they can do for you.

I recommend trying each mudra for a day and at the end of the 7 days, if you feel inspired, choosing a mudra to practice with daily for a 21 day meditation practice or sadhana.

Drop me a comment and let me know how you go. I love hearing stories of the effects of these subtle but powerful practices.

Hari om tat sat. Namaste. Blessings.

Christina at Raw Mojo

One of the powerful technologies I’ve learned is mudras. And I want share them with you because they are super-easy, you can do them anywhere and they work instantly. 

Mudras are a tool to create certain energies within the body. My next chakra series gives you an introduction into working with mudras in your everyday life, to increase vitality, instantly create calm and work with the multitudes of health giving effects mudras bring to your body, mind and spirit. 

The use of mudras, in the practice of yoga are a powerful tool for self-care and empowerment. With yoga the intention is to draw oneself inward. Mudras allow us to go inward and recharge our energy levels. The term mudra applies to the use of hand (also eye and full body) gestures that carry specific goals of channeling your body’s energy flow.

I like to think of it as our Sacred circuitry. 

Join me for a 7 week immersion into your sacred circuitry.

Check out the upcoming Power Mudra + Chakra Yoga series here

Check out upcoming Sattva Yoga and Chakradance classes here

Imagecredit: yogapedia.com

7 Days 7 Mudras – Day 5 Prithvi Mudra

One of the powerful technologies I’ve learned is mudras. And I want share them with you because they are super-easy, you can do them anywhere and they work instantly. 

Mudras are a tool to create certain energies within the body. My next chakra series gives you an introduction into working with mudras in your everyday life, to increase vitality, instantly create calm and work with the multitudes of health giving effects mudras bring to your body, mind and spirit. 

The use of mudras, in the practice of yoga are a powerful tool for self-care and empowerment. With yoga the intention is to draw oneself inward. Mudras allow us to go inward and recharge our energy levels. The term mudra applies to the use of hand (also eye and full body) gestures that carry specific goals of channeling your body’s energy flow.

I like to think of it as our Sacred circuitry. 

Join me for a 7 week immersion into your sacred circuitry.

Check out the upcoming Power Mudra + Chakra Yoga series here

PRITHVI MUDRA

Prithvi means “the vast one” and is also the name for the earth element in Sanskrit.

It is believed that the prithvi mudra is capable of increasing the earth element within the individual, which strengthens and heals the physical body.

The prithvi mudra is considered to be a very powerful mudra that is capable of healing many ailments, some of which include chronic fatigue, osteoporosis, weight loss, convalescence or paralysis, burning sensations throughout the body, ulcers, and nail, hair or skin issues.

When used as part of a spiritual practice, the prithvi mudra is thought to influence the muladhara (root) chakra, which governs the individual’s sense of stability, rootedness and security. This chakra is also associated with instincts and one’s primal nature.

HOW TO DO THE PRITHVI MUDRA

The tips of the ring fingers are pressed to the tips of the thumbs on each hand, while the other fingers are kept straight.

As with any hasta (hand) mudra, Prithvi mudra can be practiced while seated, prone, standing or even walking – as long as the body is relaxed and the posture is symmetrical. It is particularly beneficial when meditating.

Therapeutic mudras are believed to balance the elements in the body within 45 minutes.

Because this is a grounding mudra, it is highly recommended to practice this mudra in a quiet setting while meditating and focusing on the breath. If possible, this should be done for 30 to 45 minutes a day, this can be broken down into shorter sets.

WHAT THE FINGER PLACEMENTS REPRESENT

The ring finger represents the earth element. It represents stability, firmness, sturdiness. Earth is called Prithvi. Hence the hand gesture made with ring finger is called Prithvi Mudra.

The thumb agni (fire) and ring finger prithvi (earth) are brought into a balanced state as the tips are joined.

MUDRA PRACTICE

Although mudras show immediate effects, most need time 30-45 minutes (this can be spread throughout the day) over an extended period of time.

I recommend using this mudra in a meditation practice, either 30 minutes, two lots of 20 minutes, three lots of 15 minutes or five rounds of 5 minutes across the day.

Because this is a grounding mudra, it is highly recommended to practice this mudra in a quiet setting while meditating and focusing on the breath. If possible, this should be done for 30 to 45 minutes a day, this can be broken down into shorter sets.

BENEFITS

Prithvi mudra has a long list of benefits including:

• Balances the element Earth in your body

• Increases and stabilises the energy in your root chakra

• It improves body weight, blood circulation, digestive power and vitamin deficiency associated problems

• Regular practice of this mudra helps to improve the body strength

• It keeps the body stable

• Improves self confidence, gets rid of confusion, anxiety, fearfulness, fickle mindedness

• Makes the body and mind more stable and concentrated

• It is famously known for improving weight and hair growth, conditions skin, nails and bones

• Menstrual problems

• Assists throat problems including sore throat, hoarse strained voice

• Assists overactive thyroid/hypothyroidism

• Chronic fatigue

• Issues relating to the nose

• Sinusitis

• Influenza

• Varicose veins

• Urticaria or hives, rashes

• Ulcers

• Inflammation

• Piles

• Premature aging

• Memory loss

• Reduces all physical weaknesses

• Promotes body functionality

• It enhances love, compassion, tolerance and joy

WHAT ARE MUDRAS AND WHY ARE THEY POWERFUL?

In Sanskrit, mudra means “seal”, “mark” or “gesture.” Mudras are gestures (often of the hands but in Sattva Yoga we also use mudras of the eyes and tongue, and other body techniques).

Mudras act as psychic energy seals that create energetic shifts in the mental, physical and energetic body through guiding the energetic flow and harnesssing the bodily reflex stimulus to the brain.

The tips of your fingers, crown of your head, and feet are where energy leaves your body. You can practice mudras to channel that energy back into your body.

THE ELEMENTS OF THE HAND

The hand has three gunas, or qualities, and every finger has its own energy and its own elements.

In yogic philosophy the three gunas, fundamental forces, are tamas, rajas, and sattva. They interact to create all of the known Universe (Prakriti), and can be increased or decreased by using mudras.

Sattva manifests as balance, inspiration, and knowledge of what is real. Tamas is a heavy, mindless energy that causes ignorance and inaction. Rajas is the energy of change, manifesting as passion, pain, desire, and effort, and it can lead you to sattva or tamas but is often characterized as attachment to outcomes and unsteadiness.

Your hand has each of these three guna characteristics, and each finger is associated with an element.

Thumb Divine activator, Agni (Fire), Manipura chakra

Index Finger Individual Soul (Jiva), Vaayu (Air), Anahata chakra

Middle Finger Sattva Guna (Purity/Light), Akasha (Ether/Space), Vissuddha chakra

Ring Finger Rajas Guna (Passion/Fire) Prithvi (Earth), Muladhara chakra

Little Finger Tamas Guna (Inertia/Darkness) Jal (Water), Swadisthana chakra

A MUDRA FOR EVERYTHING

You can use mudras to increase, decrease or stabilise the gunas and specific elements. Whatever you need in your life, there is a mudra for it!
Some mudras show immediate effects, yet most need time 30-45 minutes (can be spread throughout the day) over an extended period of time.
You may notice some of the names I use are different from what you may be used to. My teacher comes from the Himalayan yoga tradition and so I use the names as he teaches them. Teachers from other traditions may used varied terminology.

Mudras are a powerful component of Sattva Yoga as well as a technology you can use on their own.

Over the next 7 days I am going to share my favourite mudras with you. And talk about how mudras work and what they can do for you.

I recommend trying each mudra for a day and at the end of the 7 days, if you feel inspired, choosing a mudra to practice with daily for a 21 day meditation practice or sadhana.

Drop me a comment and let me know how you go. I love hearing stories of the effects of these subtle but powerful practices.

Hari om tat sat. Namaste. Blessings.

Christina at Raw Mojo

One of the powerful technologies I’ve learned is mudras. And I want share them with you because they are super-easy, you can do them anywhere and they work instantly. 

Mudras are a tool to create certain energies within the body. My next chakra series gives you an introduction into working with mudras in your everyday life, to increase vitality, instantly create calm and work with the multitudes of health giving effects mudras bring to your body, mind and spirit. 

The use of mudras, in the practice of yoga are a powerful tool for self-care and empowerment. With yoga the intention is to draw oneself inward. Mudras allow us to go inward and recharge our energy levels. The term mudra applies to the use of hand (also eye and full body) gestures that carry specific goals of channeling your body’s energy flow.

I like to think of it as our Sacred circuitry. 

Join me for a 7 week immersion into your sacred circuitry.

Check out the upcoming Power Mudra + Chakra Yoga series here

Check out upcoming Sattva Yoga and Chakradance classes here

Imagecredit: yogapedia.com

7 Days 7 Mudras – Day 4 Varun Mudra

One of the powerful technologies I’ve learned is mudras. And I want share them with you because they are super-easy, you can do them anywhere and they work instantly. 

Mudras are a tool to create certain energies within the body. My next chakra series gives you an introduction into working with mudras in your everyday life, to increase vitality, instantly create calm and work with the multitudes of health giving effects mudras bring to your body, mind and spirit. 

The use of mudras, in the practice of yoga are a powerful tool for self-care and empowerment. With yoga the intention is to draw oneself inward. Mudras allow us to go inward and recharge our energy levels. The term mudra applies to the use of hand (also eye and full body) gestures that carry specific goals of channeling your body’s energy flow.

I like to think of it as our Sacred circuitry. 

Join me for a 7 week immersion into your sacred circuitry.

Check out the upcoming Power Mudra + Chakra Yoga series here

VARUN MUDRA

The Varun Mudra helps you to clearly and intuitively communicate. It also helps to balance the water content in your body by activating fluid circulation through the body, keeping it moisturized. This leads to healing for many skin conditions, blood conditions, osteoarthritis, digestive issues and to a natural glow of the skin.

Varun mudra is associated with mental clarity. It is based on a simple principle that communication is vital. We need to communicate clearly and assertively in order to achieve a healthy and fruitful life.

Varun mudra is also known to balance the water element in the body, and is named for Varun the Hindu god of water.

HOW TO DO THE VARUN MUDRA

The little (pinky) finger and thumb tips are lightly touching, and the remaining three fingers are held out gently, but not rigid.

There is no time limit on this mudra, you can do it any time and anywhere, however, sitting cross-legged is recommended and I recommend you remain in the mudra for at least five minutes.

As with any hasta (hand) mudra, Varun mudra can be practiced while seated, prone, standing or even walking – as long as the body is relaxed and the posture is symmetrical. It is particularly beneficial when meditating.

Because therapeutic mudras are believed to balance the elements in the body within 45 minutes, it is recommended that Varun mudra be practiced three times daily for 15 minutes each time to obtain its health benefits.

WHAT THE FINGER PLACEMENTS REPRESENT

The Varun Mudra is known as the “seal of mental clarity”. When the two fingers are placed together it is meant to symbolize and encourage openness and fluid communication.

MUDRA PRACTICE

Although mudras show immediate effects, most need time 30-45 minutes (this can be spread throughout the day) over an extended period of time.

I recommend using this mudra in a meditation practice, either 30 minutes, two lots of 20 minutes, three lots of 15 minutes or five rounds of 5 minutes across the day. You can practise mudras sitting, standing, lying down, walking. Almost anywhere really.

This mudra is best practiced sitting. I suggest trying at least 5 minutes in meditation and then you can bring the mudra in to other parts of your day, sitting at your desk.

BENEFITS

Practising Varun mudra is thought to cure or provide relief from a range of diseases and ailments that result from a lack of water in the body, including:

• Digestive issues like indigestion and constipation

• Skin disorders such as eczema and psoriasis

• Osteoarthritis

• Anemia and other blood-related problems

• Disorders related to the bladder and kidneys

• Dehydration

Varun mudra is also beneficial for dry mouth, dry eyes, dry skin and dry hair, as well as a loss of taste and other tongue disorders.

Anyone who has a problem with water retention or who is suffering from a severe cold or cough should avoid this mudra.

WHAT ARE MUDRAS AND WHY ARE THEY POWERFUL?

In Sanskrit, mudra means “seal”, “mark” or “gesture.” Mudras are gestures (often of the hands but in Sattva Yoga we also use mudras of the eyes and tongue, and other body techniques).

Mudras act as psychic energy seals that create energetic shifts in the mental, physical and energetic body through guiding the energetic flow and harnesssing the bodily reflex stimulus to the brain.

The tips of your fingers, crown of your head, and feet are where energy leaves your body. You can practice mudras to channel that energy back into your body.

THE ELEMENTS OF THE HAND

The hand has three gunas, or qualities, and every finger has its own energy and its own elements.

In yogic philosophy the three gunas, fundamental forces, are tamas, rajas, and sattva. They interact to create all of the known Universe (Prakriti), and can be increased or decreased by using mudras.

Sattva manifests as balance, inspiration, and knowledge of what is real. Tamas is a heavy, mindless energy that causes ignorance and inaction. Rajas is the energy of change, manifesting as passion, pain, desire, and effort, and it can lead you to sattva or tamas but is often characterized as attachment to outcomes and unsteadiness.

Your hand has each of these three guna characteristics, and each finger is associated with an element.

Thumb Divine activator, Agni (Fire), Manipura chakra

Index Finger Individual Soul (Jiva), Vaayu (Air), Anahata chakra

Middle Finger Sattva Guna (Purity/Light), Akasha (Ether/Space), Vissuddha chakra

Ring Finger Rajas Guna (Passion/Fire) Prithvi (Earth), Muladhara chakra

Little Finger Tamas Guna (Inertia/Darkness) Jal (Water), Swadisthana chakra

A MUDRA FOR EVERYTHING

You can use mudras to increase, decrease or stabilise the gunas and specific elements. Whatever you need in your life, there is a mudra for it!
Some mudras show immediate effects, yet most need time 30-45 minutes (can be spread throughout the day) over an extended period of time.
You may notice some of the names I use are different from what you may be used to. My teacher comes from the Himalayan yoga tradition and so I use the names as he teaches them. Teachers from other traditions may used varied terminology.

Mudras are a powerful component of Sattva Yoga as well as a technology you can use on their own.

Over the next 7 days I am going to share my favourite mudras with you. And talk about how mudras work and what they can do for you.

I recommend trying each mudra for a day and at the end of the 7 days, if you feel inspired, choosing a mudra to practice with daily for a 21 day meditation practice or sadhana.

Drop me a comment and let me know how you go. I love hearing stories of the effects of these subtle but powerful practices.

Hari om tat sat. Namaste. Blessings.

Christina at Raw Mojo

One of the powerful technologies I’ve learned is mudras. And I want share them with you because they are super-easy, you can do them anywhere and they work instantly. 

Mudras are a tool to create certain energies within the body. My next chakra series gives you an introduction into working with mudras in your everyday life, to increase vitality, instantly create calm and work with the multitudes of health giving effects mudras bring to your body, mind and spirit. 

The use of mudras, in the practice of yoga are a powerful tool for self-care and empowerment. With yoga the intention is to draw oneself inward. Mudras allow us to go inward and recharge our energy levels. The term mudra applies to the use of hand (also eye and full body) gestures that carry specific goals of channeling your body’s energy flow.

I like to think of it as our Sacred circuitry. 

Join me for a 7 week immersion into your sacred circuitry.

Check out the upcoming Power Mudra + Chakra Yoga series here

Imagecredit: yogapedia.com

7 Days 7 Mudras- Day 3 Yoni Mudra

image

One of the powerful technologies I’ve learned is mudras. And I want share them with you because they are super-easy, you can do them anywhere and they work instantly. 

Mudras are a tool to create certain energies within the body. My next chakra series gives you an introduction into working with mudras in your everyday life, to increase vitality, instantly create calm and work with the multitudes of health giving effects mudras bring to your body, mind and spirit. 

The use of mudras, in the practice of yoga are a powerful tool for self-care and empowerment. With yoga the intention is to draw oneself inward. Mudras allow us to go inward and recharge our energy levels. The term mudra applies to the use of hand (also eye and full body) gestures that carry specific goals of channeling your body’s energy flow.

I like to think of it as our Sacred circuitry. 

Join me for a 7 week immersion into your sacred circuitry.

Check out the upcoming Power Mudra + Chakra Yoga series here

YONI MUDRA

Yoni represents the womb, the creative potential of existence. It is a classical meditation mudra and enhances creativity, receptivity, detachment and equanimity.

It helps you in redirecting your attention inward and brings spiritual calmness, balance and peace to the heart and mind.

The Yoni Mudra helps in quieting the mind. Practicing this helps your nervous system to be calmed and stabilized, allowing you to redirect your attention inward.

To perform yoni mudra, assume a comfortable posture, like seated cross-legged, remembering to always keep your head and back straight and upright.

Bring the tips of the thumbs together pointing upward and the tips of the index fingers together and let them point downward.

You can either interlace the other fingers or turn the pinky, ring and middle fingers inwards so that the back of the fingers are touching. Find what is most comfortable for you, I like to interlace.

Hold the mudra in front of swadisthana, the sacral chakra, at your lower belly. Tuck in the chin, close the eyes and focus on the swadisthana and the mudra. Take slow, deep breaths.

You should remain in the mudra for at least five minutes.

WHAT THE FINGER PLACEMENTS REPRESENT

Yoni Mudra helps to cultivate creative energy and detachment from the chaos of the outer world.

The downward-pointing triangle shape that this mudra makes between the hands is the symbol of Shakti as the manifesting current of energy. It enhances apana vayu, the downward grounding wind.

The practice of Yoni Mudra where the fingers are touching each other is said to bring balance within the body in relation to prana. The two most important nadis – ida and pingala are said to work in harmony encouraging balance.

Use this mudra anytime you need to detach from daily life, anchor yourself, and plug in to your infinite feminine creative power.

MUDRA PRACTICE

Although mudras show immediate effects, most need time 30-45 minutes (this can be spread throughout the day) over an extended period of time.

I recommend using this mudra in a meditation practice, either 30 minutes, two lots of 20 minutes or five rounds of 5 minutes across the day. You can practise mudras sitting, standing, lying down, walking. Almost anywhere really.

This mudra is best practiced sitting. I suggest trying at least 5 minutes in meditation and then you can bring the mudra in to other parts of your day, sitting at your desk.

BENEFITS

• Promotes flow of energy

• Calms the mind

• Alleviates stress

• Promotes mental clarity

• Strengthens the nervous system

Yoni mudra is an excellent practice to be combined with meditation as it blocks distractions of all sorts.

The Yoni Mudra is dedicated to the feminine power Shakti. ‘Yoni’ means ‘womb’. Hence the practice of Yoni Mudra brings strength and power like the feminine Shakti (power).

This mudra is equally relevant for all genders as it works on the metaphysical level with the archetype of the womb and the creative force of Shakti.

In Indian Vedic and yogic philosophy the creative energy that manifests all life is the feminine power of Shakti. The origin of all life, of Shakti, is the great unmanifested cosmic womb, known in Sanskrit as Hiranyagarbha.

Yoni Mudra is sometimes referred to as Feminine Adi Shakti Primal Power Mudra. Given below are some of the important benefits that are derived when one practices Yoni Mudra.

1. Connection to the Earth: The practice of Yoni Mudra teaches one to go back to where one started – the earth – the birth. Bringing a sense of connection to where we belong. It is done on a very spiritual level.

2. Female Energy: The practice of Yoni Mudra helps women to connect to the innate female energy. The main source of life creation embedded deep in the womb.

3. Balance in the energy: The practice of Yoni Mudra where the fingers are touching each other is said to bring balance within the body in relation to prana. The two most important nadis – ida and pingala are said to work in harmony encouraging balance.

4. Fertility in women improves: With the practice of Yoni Mudra when done regularly for good duration, is said to help women finding difficulties with infertility. Helps women gain the energy back into their bodies to help improve fertility.

5. Women during menopause: The practice of Yoni Mudra is also good for women fighting symptoms related to menopause due to hormonal imbalance. This practice helps to bring this balance the right way, making menopause smooth.

WHAT ARE MUDRAS AND WHY ARE THEY POWERFUL?

In Sanskrit, mudra means “seal”, “mark” or “gesture.” Mudras are gestures (often of the hands but in Sattva Yoga we also use mudras of the eyes and tongue, and other body techniques).

Mudras act as psychic energy seals that create energetic shifts in the mental, physical and energetic body through guiding the energetic flow and harnesssing the bodily reflex stimulus to the brain.

The tips of your fingers, crown of your head, and feet are where energy leaves your body. You can practice mudras to channel that energy back into your body.

THE ELEMENTS OF THE HAND

The hand has three gunas, or qualities, and every finger has its own energy and its own elements.

In yogic philosophy the three gunas, fundamental forces, are tamas, rajas, and sattva. They interact to create all of the known Universe (Prakriti), and can be increased or decreased by using mudras.

Sattva manifests as balance, inspiration, and knowledge of what is real. Tamas is a heavy, mindless energy that causes ignorance and inaction. Rajas is the energy of change, manifesting as passion, pain, desire, and effort, and it can lead you to sattva or tamas but is often characterized as attachment to outcomes and unsteadiness.

Your hand has each of these three guna characteristics, and each finger is associated with an element.

Thumb Divine activator, Agni (Fire), Manipura chakra

Index Finger Individual Soul (Jiva), Vaayu (Air), Anahata chakra

Middle Finger Sattva Guna (Purity/Light), Akasha (Ether/Space), Vissuddha chakra

Ring Finger Rajas Guna (Passion/Fire) Prithvi (Earth), Muladhara chakra

Little Finger Tamas Guna (Inertia/Darkness) Jal (Water), Swadisthana chakra

A MUDRA FOR EVERYTHING

You can use mudras to increase, decrease or stabilise the gunas and specific elements. Whatever you need in your life, there is a mudra for it!
Some mudras show immediate effects, yet most need time 30-45 minutes (can be spread throughout the day) over an extended period of time.
You may notice some of the names I use are different from what you may be used to. My teacher comes from the Himalayan yoga tradition and so I use the names as he teaches them. Teachers from other traditions may used varied terminology.

Mudras are a powerful component of Sattva Yoga as well as a technology you can use on their own.

Over the next 7 days I am going to share my favourite mudras with you. And talk about how mudras work and what they can do for you.

I recommend trying each mudra for a day and at the end of the 7 days, if you feel inspired, choosing a mudra to practice with daily for a 21 day meditation practice or sadhana. And join me for the upcoming Power Mudra + Chakra Yoga series here

Drop me a comment and let me know how you go. I love hearing stories of the effects of these subtle but powerful practices.

Hari om tat sat. Namaste. Blessings.

Christina at Raw Mojo

Check out the upcoming Power Mudra + Chakra Yoga series here

One of the powerful technologies I’ve learned is mudras. And I want share them with you because they are super-easy, you can do them anywhere and they work instantly. 

Mudras are a tool to create certain energies within the body. My next chakra series gives you an introduction into working with mudras in your everyday life, to increase vitality, instantly create calm and work with the multitudes of health giving effects mudras bring to your body, mind and spirit. 

The use of mudras, in the practice of yoga are a powerful tool for self-care and empowerment. With yoga the intention is to draw oneself inward. Mudras allow us to go inward and recharge our energy levels. The term mudra applies to the use of hand (also eye and full body) gestures that carry specific goals of channeling your body’s energy flow.

I like to think of it as our Sacred circuitry. 

Join me for a 7 week immersion into your sacred circuitry.

Check out the upcoming Power Mudra + Chakra Yoga series here

7 Days 7 Mudras – Day 2 Prana Mudra

One of the powerful technologies I’ve learned is mudras. And I want share them with you because they are super-easy, you can do them anywhere and they work instantly. 

Mudras are a tool to create certain energies within the body. My next chakra series gives you an introduction into working with mudras in your everyday life, to increase vitality, instantly create calm and work with the multitudes of health giving effects mudras bring to your body, mind and spirit. 

The use of mudras, in the practice of yoga are a powerful tool for self-care and empowerment. With yoga the intention is to draw oneself inward. Mudras allow us to go inward and recharge our energy levels. The term mudra applies to the use of hand (also eye and full body) gestures that carry specific goals of channeling your body’s energy flow.

I like to think of it as our Sacred circuitry. 

Join me for a 7 week immersion into your sacred circuitry. Check out my upcoming Power Mudra Chakra Yoga series here

PRANA MUDRA

Prana mudra activates inactive energy in your body. The gesture symbolizes the vital life force energy, which in Sanskrit is called prana.

Prana is the dynamic life force within all living things. This hand seal encourages the flow of energy, which in turn helps awaken and attune the vital life force to make you feel strong and invigorated.

Prana mudra improves the overall vitality of the whole body. It increases our staying power and assertiveness, gives us the courage to start something new and the strength to see it through.

In combination with slow and gentle breathing, the practice of Prana mudra is stabilising and calming.

Prana mudra nourishes your body and adds prana to your food, so you can hold this mudra while you bless your food.

WHAT THE FINGER PLACEMENTS REPRESENT

In this mudra you bring the tips of the thumb, the ring finger and the pinky to touch, and keep the other two fingers together, slightly stretched but relaxed.

It is believed performing this mudra stimulates your lower three chakras, particularly your root chakra or muladhara, (represented by the thumb (manipura), ring finger (muladhara) and pinky (swadisthana) and activates the flow of life force, which can be dormant and sometimes stuck at your root chakra.

Although it’s benefits include improved sleep, I wouldn’t use this mudra to go to sleep as it does activate and bring in energy in vitality. If you are using it during the day you should notice an improvement in sleep.

Prana Mudra decreases nervousness and increase confidence. Regular practice will also help you to regulate negative behaviours like anger, tension, and envy, while also promoting happiness and enjoyment in your life.

Other benefits include strengthening the immune system, relieving digestive issues and even improving your vision! No wonder it is known as a healing mudra.

MUDRA PRACTICE

Although mudras show immediate effects, most need time 30-45 minutes (this can be spread throughout the day) over an extended period of time.

I recommend using this mudra in a meditation practice, either 30 minutes, two lots of 20 minutes or five rounds of 5 minutes across the day.

Because it is activating your life force energy, feel free to stop the mudra when you feel the effects as that means you are balanced and energised. You can then just sit in meditation if you are doing a longer stretch of time or use the Gyana mudra from yesterday.

You can practise mudras sitting, standing, lying down, walking. Almost anywhere really. This mudra is best practiced sitting or standing.

I suggest trying at least 5 minutes in meditation and then you can bring the mudra in to other parts of your day, sitting at your desk.

Prana mudra is a wonderful way to uplift your mind and bring fresh nourishing energy into your body and environment. You can even use this mudra to bless your food and drink before you consume it.

WHAT ARE MUDRAS AND WHY ARE THEY POWERFUL?

In Sanskrit, mudra means “seal”, “mark” or “gesture.” Mudras are gestures (often of the hands but in Sattva Yoga we also use mudras of the eyes and tongue, and other body techniques).
Mudras act as psychic energy seals that create energetic shifts in the mental, physical and energetic body through guiding the energetic flow and harnesssing the bodily reflex stimulus to the brain.
The tips of your fingers, crown of your head, and feet are where energy leaves your body. You can practice mudras to channel that energy back into your body.

THE ELEMENTS OF THE HAND

The hand has three gunas, or qualities, and every finger has its own energy and its own elements.
In yogic philosophy the three gunas, fundamental forces, are tamas, rajas, and sattva. They interact to create all of the known Universe (Prakriti), and can be increased or decreased by using mudras.
Sattva manifests as balance, inspiration, and knowledge of what is real. Tamas is a heavy, mindless energy that causes ignorance and inaction. Rajas is the energy of change, manifesting as passion, pain, desire, and effort, and it can lead you to sattva or tamas but is often characterized as attachment to outcomes and unsteadiness.
Your hand has each of these three guna characteristics, and each finger is associated with an element.

Thumb Divine activator, Agni (Fire), Manipura chakra

Index Finger Individual Soul (Jiva), Vaayu (Air), Anahata chakra

Middle Finger Sattva Guna (Purity/Light), Akasha (Ether/Space), Vissuddha chakra

Ring Finger Rajas Guna (Passion/Fire) Prithvi (Earth), Muladhara chakra

Little Finger Tamas Guna (Inertia/Darkness) Jal (Water), Swadisthana chakra

A MUDRA FOR EVERYTHING

You can use mudras to increase, decrease or stabilise the gunas and specific elements. Whatever you need in your life, there is a mudra for it!
Some mudras show immediate effects, yet most need time 30-45 minutes (can be spread throughout the day) over an extended period of time.
You may notice some of the names I use are different from what you may be used to. My teacher comes from the Himalayan yoga tradition and so I use the names as he teaches them. Teachers from other traditions may used varied terminology.

Mudras are a powerful component of Sattva Yoga as well as a technology you can use on their own.

Over the next 7 days I am going to share my favourite mudras with you. And talk about how mudras work and what they can do for you.

I recommend trying each mudra for a day and at the end of the 7 days, if you feel inspired, choosing a mudra to practice with daily for a 21 day meditation practice or sadhana.

Drop me a comment and let me know how you go. I love hearing stories of the effects of these subtle but powerful practices.

Hari om tat sat. Namaste. Blessings.

Christina at Raw Mojo

One of the powerful technologies I’ve learned is mudras. And I want share them with you because they are super-easy, you can do them anywhere and they work instantly.

The use of mudras, in the practice of yoga are a powerful tool for self-care and empowerment. With yoga the intention is to draw oneself inward. Mudras allow us to go inward and recharge our energy levels. The term mudra applies to the use of hand (also eye and full body) gestures that carry specific goals of channeling your body’s energy flow.

I like to think of it as our Sacred circuitry.

Join me for a 7 week immersion into your sacred circuitry

Check out my upcoming Power Mudra Chakra Yoga series here

7 Days 7 Mudras Day 1 Gyana Mudra

7 daya7mudrasGyan-mudra-1024x683.jpg

One of the powerful technologies I’ve learned is mudras. And I want share them with you because they are super-easy, you can do them anywhere and they work instantly.

Mudras are a tool to create certain energies within the body. My next chakra series gives you an introduction into working with mudras in your everyday life, to increase vitality, instantly create calm and work with the multitudes of health giving effects mudras bring to your body, mind and spirit.

The use of mudras, in the practice of yoga are a powerful tool for self-care and empowerment. With yoga the intention is to draw oneself inward. Mudras allow us to go inward and recharge our energy levels. The term mudra applies to the use of hand (also eye and full body) gestures that carry specific goals of channeling your body’s energy flow.

I like to think of it as our Sacred circuitry.

GYANA MUDRA

Gyana Mudra is a classical meditation mudra.

It’s one of my very favourites as it is great for soothing the nervous system and bringing mental balance.

Gyana mudra is known as the “yogic tranquilliser” as it brings calm, alleviates insomnia, depression and tremors associated with neurological diseases like Parkinson’s.

WHAT THE FINGER PLACEMENTS REPRESENT

In this mudra you bring the tip of your index finger and the tip of the your thumb together to form a circle. Keep your remaining fingers straight.

Your index finger represents individual consciousness and your thumb symbolises universal consciousness. So this mudra represents the unity of these two powers.

Your extended fingers represent the three gunas (the fundamental forces, tamas, rajas, and sattva, that interact to create all of the known Universe, including you.) These are like stages of awareness that have to be transcended as you evolve through your practice from ignorance to enlightenment.

MUDRA PRACTICE

Although mudras show immediate effects, most need time 30-45 minutes (this can be spread throughout the day) over an extended period of time.

I recommend using this mudra in a meditation practice, either 30 minutes, two lots of 20 minutes or five rounds of 5 minutes across the day.

You can practise mudras sitting, standing, lying down, walking. Almost anywhere really. I suggest trying at least 5 minutes in meditation and then you can bring the mudra in to other parts of your day, sitting at your desk.

Gyana mudra is a wonderful way to calm your mind at the end of the day and relieves insomnia, so you could practice this one before sleep.

WHAT ARE MUDRAS AND WHY ARE THEY POWERFUL?

In Sanskrit, mudra means “seal”, “mark” or “gesture.” Mudras are gestures (often of the hands but in Sattva Yoga we also use mudras of the eyes and tongue, and other body techniques).
Mudras act as psychic energy seals that create energetic shifts in the mental, physical and energetic body through guiding the energetic flow and harnesssing the bodily reflex stimulus to the brain.
The tips of your fingers, crown of your head, and feet are where energy leaves your body. You can practice mudras to channel that energy back into your body.

THE ELEMENTS OF THE HAND

The hand has three gunas, or qualities, and every finger has its own energy and its own elements.
In yogic philosophy the three gunas, fundamental forces, are tamas, rajas, and sattva. They interact to create all of the known Universe (Prakriti), and can be increased or decreased by using mudras.
Sattva manifests as balance, inspiration, and knowledge of what is real. Tamas is a heavy, mindless energy that causes ignorance and inaction. Rajas is the energy of change, manifesting as passion, pain, desire, and effort, and it can lead you to sattva or tamas but is often characterized as attachment to outcomes and unsteadiness.
Your hand has each of these three guna characteristics, and each finger is associated with an element.

Thumb Divine activator, Agni (Fire)

Index Finger Individual Soul (Jiva), Vaayu (Air)

Middle Finger Sattva Guna (Purity/Light), Akasha (Ether/Space)

Ring Finger Rajas Guna (Passion/Fire) Prithvi (Earth)

Little Finger Tamas Guna (Inertia/Darkness) Jal (Water)

A MUDRA FOR EVERYTHING

You can use mudras to increase, decrease or stabilise the gunas and specific elements. Whatever you need in your life, there is a mudra for it!
Some mudras show immediate effects, yet most need time 30-45 minutes (can be spread throughout the day) over an extended period of time.
You may notice some of the names I use are different from what you may be used to. My teacher comes from the Himalayan yoga tradition and so I use the names as he teaches them. Teachers from other traditions may used varied terminology.

Mudras are a powerful component of Sattva Yoga as well as a technology you can use on their own.

Over the next 7 days I am going to share my favourite mudras with you. And talk about how mudras work and what they can do for you.

I recommend trying each mudra for a day and at the end of the 7 days, if you feel inspired, choosing a mudra to practice with daily for a 21 day meditation practice or sadhana.

Drop me a comment and let me know how you go. I love hearing stories of the effects of these subtle but powerful practices.

Hari om tat sat. Namaste. Blessings.

Christina at Raw Mojo

Check out the upcoming Power Mudra + Chakra Yoga series here

What if God was a She?

“Tantra is the Goddess’s path, which means that it is for people who know how to use the physical and imaginal world as doorways into the ultimate, as well as for worldly delight. The Goddess is the mistress of these worlds as she is of the physical world, which is why at the heart Tantric practice there is deep respect for the feminine as spiritual authority.”

– Sally Kempton

This was the question posed to us in the first session of Faces of Power: An Indian Goddess Odyssey. (Which by the way, if you are interested in Indian mythology and wisdom I highly recommend these courses. Presented by Dr Raj Balkaran. I popped a link in below.)

Anyway, I digress (already? right?) So what was the question? Oh yeah. What if God was a She?

So Dr Raj, as we affectionately call him, his little posse of Goddess lovers, posed this question. It seems reasonable given we were about to embark of a study of divine feminine power, AKA the Goddess, but then he started to unpack this question and it kind of blew my mind. He does that. He’s actually very good at it. You think he’s just telling you stories, which he does, and then BOOM! mind blown.

So this idea, of feminine divine power is not new to me, I have been deeply immersed in goddess devotion for many years. What struck me deeply was his assertion that most of us in the West, whether Christian, Judaic or Muslim, have grown up in a culture where God is male. Okay, so far nothing new. But what kind of man is this male God? Well, he’s pretty detached, punitive and he’s of the desert. He doesn’t indulge in the kind of creativity that comes from commingling with bodies, there’s no genitals mentioned. He just summoned forth the world entirely on his own, from the force of his will and the power of his word. And on a deadline, one week to the day. And then he rests, somewhere far away from his creation.

Unlike all of the rest of creation (which is generally assumed to be in his image,) there’s no genitals, no uterus, no feminine contribution at all. This is a creation story entirely devoid of sensuality, of sexuality. It’s as dry as the desert he comes from. Now I do know in most of these traditions there are esoteric teachings that do involve the divine feminine – not to mention the profound feminine influence of Mother Mary and Sophia in these traditions, but what I am referring to here is the kind of God – the almighty power, the Alpha and Omega – that is deeply ingrained in the psyche of anyone who grew up in an Abrahamic religious culture, and that God is a man. For many like me, possibly with a booming voice and a long white beard and flowing robes, standing in, yep, you guessed it, a barren desert.

The lone male in the desert is powerful analogy for me, in contrast to this Divine Mother, intricately embedded in the elements, in the land, the waters and in us humans. (Interestingly one of the epithets for Goddess Lakshmi is “moist” – isn’t that a beautifully sensual and evocative word for the divine feminine?)

Divine Awareness manifests this world as an expression of its own joy. This remains true even when everything seems to be totally screwed up. It is the fundamental paradox of manifestation, at the core of tantra, that both ecstasy and suffering can co-exist within the overarching awareness.

– Sally Kempton

“Asexual command,” is how Dr Raj describes it. Doesn’t that sound fun? Anyone list that in their Tinder profile? Either consciously or unconsciously, for those of us raised in these cultures, we understand that God is a he, and that male virtues are virtues, while feminine virtues are, well, something else, and are undervalued. It’s embedded in our very culture.

Now right here, I want to be clear that masculine and feminine does not pertain entirely to gender, it may somewhat, but we can all see that all humans have a degree of both. In fact the entire system of Tantrik yoga, which I’ll get to in a minute, if I don’t go off on another tangent, which I probably will, is entirely devoted to the awareness and mastery of the self through the ability to balance and direct these energies effectively.

So taking aside all your gendered stereotypes, just ask yourself, your innermost being, what if the divine was a She? What if the supreme being was feminine? Now obviously a supreme being is totality, so these divisions don’t really apply, but they do exist in our psyche and this plays out in every aspect of our lives and culture and how we are in the world. So ask yourself. What if God were a She?

And not a detached, disembodied woman, but an effulgent, bodacious, omnipresent, omnipotent, fierce, fertile and sensually powerful She.

Not a linear God that creates from nothing into a linear world where we are born, live and die. Our only chance at liberation in the afterlife, if we are lucky enough to graduate there. But a cyclical goddess, where all of life rises and falls as waves from the same cosmic ocean, nothing ever dies, it just plays in the endless cycle of creation, sustenance and dissolution – back to the ocean of potentiality. Where liberation is always viable because everything is an aspect, an expression of her divine nature. She never abandons us to our messy lives, how could she, as she is in everything.

I truly believe this is what the Tantrik world view has to offer us. This is why so many Western women (and men, but it’s predominantly women) are experiencing deep awakenings through yoga. This is why I wanted to write this blog post because I am so fatigued by people thinking yoga is bending yourself into a pretzel while wearing fancy pants, and Tantra is sex. No! Just no.

Tantra is a school of wisdom teachings (actually many schools, but that’s a blog post in itself) that teaches embodiment. It teaches us how to access the divine through our human bodies. It teaches us that the very energy that courses through our physical being, that Kundalini Shakti is nothing other, nothing less, that this divine feminine energy. It’s God. And God is a She.

Now my dears, I know God is a loaded term, but let’s think of it as our fullest potential, as aligning ourselves with this untapped resource that we can access to become the best possible expression of ourselves. That’s all. The spiritual journey is a path of evolution, to realize all the untapped potential, that 96% of the mind that we don’t use, learning how to harness that.

“I create the Father of the universe on the summit of the worlds. My origin is within the cosmic waters, in the universal sea. From there I extend to all the worlds and touch the ridge of Heaven. I blow like the wind, setting in motion all the universe. Far beyond Heaven and beyond this Earth extends my greatness.”

– Vak Ambhrini, Rig Veda X. 125. 7-8

Let’s examine this a little. We all came from a woman’s body, yes? We talk of “Mother Nature” not father nature. We see in animals the commingling of the sexes to create new life, yet it is the female who births.

Would it not be intuitive then to see God, the ultimate creative power as feminine? In fact there is much evidence to suggest that our ancient ancestors thought exactly this, that the feminine was the form of divine creativity. That the mother was worshipped as the “Great Mother” the divine creator birthing all of life.

In the Indian tradition the world originates from the Hiraṇyagarbha – the cosmic womb – and all manifest reality is churned from the cosmic ocean of milk, both very feminine images. Yet the Hindu tradition was not immune to this God as male story either. Many of the early texts refer to this cosmic womb as Brahma, the creator God of the Trimurti of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, creator, sustainer and transmuter.

Yet this ancient understanding of the Divine Mother never died out in India, as it did in so many cultures. The evidence is in art and temples of goddess worship which was most likely practiced as early indigenous shamanic traditions and adopted by early Tantrik practitioners.

Many scholar/practitioners of yoga believe these practices are encoded in the mythic stories of the Hindu tradition, notably the Puranas. A body of writings which spanned for a period of nearly 2000 years, and include a particularly fascinating text called the Devi Mahatmya, or “The Glory of the Goddess.”

The Devi Mahatmya text is a devotional text, and its aim is to praise the Divine Mother, in order to receive her power, her blessings, her protection, her Shakti. The philosophical foundation of the text is of the female as the primordial creator, and as the Tridevi, the secondary creator, the sustainer, and destroyer. She is presented, through a language of praise, as the one who dwells in all creatures, as the soul, as the power to know (jyana shakti), the power to will (iccha shakti) and the power to act (kriya shakti). She is the consciousness of all living beings, she is intelligence, she is matter, and she is all that is form or emotion. In short she is everything from the most absolute and divine (nirguna), to the most mundane and embodied (saguna.)

As well as being a deeply devotional text, it is also embedded (in a similar way to the Bhagavad Gita) with a cogent life philosophy and esoteric teachings.

I’m so grateful to scholar practitioners (someone who both studies and practices yoga) for bringing this text to light. It is equally as amazing as the Bhavagad Gita and yet possibly moreso because it glorifies the divine feminine power.

That’s part of what has propelled me to write. Honestly, I just haven’t felt compelled to write in a very long time, which I find sad as I think of writing as my primary form of creative expression. But recently as I have started to dive deeper into the teachings with my Chakra Sadhana students, I am finding a real hunger for this knowledge. It feels as if this wisdom is deeply embedded in us, and these wisdom teachings and yoga technologies are the key to unlocking them, and the shakti, the power that sustains them as a living, breathing intelligence in our bodies.

When people ask me what kind of yoga I teach, often smirking and enquiring about my body-bending-pretzel capabilities (“you must be very flexible”) what I always want to say is that yes, my body is healthier and more nubile than ever, but it is my mind, my consciousness that is truly wonderful. I want to say that I am a Tantrika, a practitioner of Tantrik yoga but everyone in the West thinks that means sex. It doesn’t. It doesn’t exclude sex either. See that’s what’s so delicious and tantalising about Tantrik yoga. It’s embodied.

“Tantra can perhaps best be defined as an energetic approach to the spiritual path, using various techniques including mantra, ritual, Pranayama, and meditation.”

– David Frawley

Unlike the austere and detached desert father God, the Goddess is both fully transcendent and fully embodied. She is all aspects of being. which is why there are so many “small ‘g’ goddesses” in India.

There’s the goddess of outcasts, of entering the invisible “older woman” years, even of diseases like small pox (some of these are thriving in CoVid times).

The are villages goddesses, “small ‘g’ goddesses” and then the great Goddesses the TriDevi (tri = three Devi = goddess), and in and through and around all of that, emerging from as, an aspect of, is the great Goddess, the Divine Mother, the ultimate power. Like a power source that all these luminous lights are plugged into, they embody and emanate her power. (And so do we)

Yet, she is all of this at once, she operates on all these levels, both as unmanifest and manifest. When we worship one aspect we worship all.

So it’s no wonder really when the notoriously uptight and repressed British arrived in India and saw images on temple walls of voluptuous goddesses and erect phallic symbols that they jumped to the conclusion that the Hindu religion was some kind of sex cult. And no less the hippy trailers who descending on India in the sixties and seventies, running from these repressive cultures, thought they found the Mecca of free love (no they just projected this notion onto the ashram scene with the implications of that still resounding today.)

Tantrik yoga is not about sex, nor is it not about sex, it’s just not obsessed with sex. See this is part of the problem with our male ascetic God, there’s no modelling on what healthy sex might be. On what healthy integration of the masculine and feminine principles might be. In Tantra there is an understanding of the need to balance our energies, including the masculine and feminine, the Shiva and Shakti. And that’s what those sexy temple images are representing. Not, let’s get down on the temple floor, but the divine union of Shiva and Shakti, which is a union of subtle energies, of the prana or life force as it moves up the central channel, uniting at the third eye. The ultimate cosmic consummation.

And of course the masculine is revered here too. In the Tridevi/Trimurti aspect of the divine, the Gods and Goddesses operate in consort with each other: Brahma and Saraswati as the creative consciousness and power, Vishnu and Lakshmi as the sustaining consciousness and power and Shiva and Kali as the destroying or transforming consciousness and power. They operate as a unified energy, like the Taoist image of Yin Yang.

The broad approach of Tantra contains ways to turn all ordinary activities – including breathing, eating, and sleeping – into rituals or sacred actions, but this does not mean Tantra is promoting such activities for ordinary gratification.

– David Frawley

So who cares? Most of us probably don’t associate with a religious world view, well not consciously, who cares what gender or atttributes our culture ascribes to God?

Well, that’s the rub isn’t it, because there’s a good chance that even the most agnostic amongst us is unconsciously embedded with this notion of this male desert God. An omnipotent power force devoid of sensuality or feminine traits, a power that seems detached from our everyday lives. What if that wasn’t the deal at all?

What if God, or Goddess, was so intricately and implicitly embedded in every layer of existence that we miss seeing her. Or only catch a conscious glimpse in times of awe, a sunset, a flower, a newborn baby?

What if every emotion, every flush of delight, of pleasure, of sadness, of joy, was shakti, was this mother divine flushing through you? What is She is inherent in every breath, every cell, every particle of life? Wouldn’t that change how you see life, how you see nature, other beings? How you see yourself.

This to me is yoga. I can’t do a handstand, or stick my head out between my legs, but I can sit and enter a state of conscious communion with this Divine Mother. I can engage in yoga technologies like kriya and pranayama, which activate the Divine Mother energy, the Kundalini Shakti in my body. I have learned how to access Sat Chit Ananda, truth, consciousness and bliss from my very mundane physical state.

“The Goddess Speaks: Before the beginning of the universe I alone existed, with nothing other than myself. That Self-nature is called by the names of consciousness, wisdom and the supreme Brahman.”

– Devi Gita IV.3

This yoga is body affirming and world affirming, it does not deny the physical world but sees it as a temple from which to embody the divine, to experience the highest expression of this life force.

And beyond the feeling of union and ecstasy of these practices allow me to embody, is a sense that if only more people had access to them and understood what they really do, couldn’t we live in a different world?

Dr Raj talks about the different leadership styles represented by the feminine divine. What does it mean to embody this approach to life?

I had a wonderful coaching session this week with my friend Katie Durgā. Her philosophy is that we have all the wisdom we need, but sometimes we need a bit of guidance in clarifying it. She took me through this session, focusing on current issues as well as a vision for my dream life. From this she helped me find some practical daily actions to work towards my goal of “channeling all of my energies into my dream life”

To me this exemplifies the feminine approach, drawing the wisdom from within rather than looking to external figures of authority to “tell” us what to do. As well as allowing the heart intelligence to guide us, appreciating it as an equally valid source of wisdom as the intellect.

What if God was not only a She, but an infinitely loving and involved Divine Mother, embedded in all things, in everything. Alive and pulsing through our every breath, through every shared word, and every interaction with other living beings. And what if we understood that our every moment, every thought, every action is co-creating the world with the Mother Divine. Would we not choose to live a little more harmoniously, a little more reverently. Would we not be creating a different reality?

Jai Ma!

Christina

Christina is a Chakradance facilitator, Sattva yoga teacher, holder of sacred space, and wellbeing writer. She is passionate about wellbeing and brings her extensive knowledge though studies in the chakra system, yoga and shamanism to her practice.

Check out Dr Raj’s amazing wisdom school teachings at rajbalkaran.mykajabi.com

And Katie Durgā Mindfulness for some Goddess focused Yoga and Life Coaching at durgamindfulness.com

And of course, myself Ms Raw Mojo, bringing you Chakra Yoga and Chakradance to awaken your kundalini shakti – the divine within at rawmojo.com.au

Pranayama – breathe better, feel better


What’s the big deal about pranayama and breath work?

Pranayama or breath work, in all its forms, has gained a ton of credibility—and popularity—as a stress management and healing tool.

In their book, The Healing Power of the Breath, doctors Richard P. Brown and Patricia L. Gerbarg write:

“Studies are revealing that, by changing the patterns of breathing, it is possible to restore balance to the stress response systems, calm an agitated mind, relieve symptoms of anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), improve physical health and endurance, elevate performance, and enhance relationships.”

Physical well-being. Lightness of heart. Clarity of mind. Inner and outer health and fulfillment. Purpose, intention, and direction.

If you could produce these sorts of results with a daily breath and meditation practice, would you be interested?

Research suggests even just 10 minutes of meditation a day over one month is enough to help you feel more focused, present, self compassionate, happier, less stressed and support you in flourishing in life. Increasing this to twice a day with some pranayama breath practice will really get results.

It seems crazy because we are doing it all the time but most of us don’t know how to breathe effectively.

Many people breathe from their chests instead of their diaphragms, resulting in shallow breathing which over time both reduces their oxygen intake and their ability to fully empty their breath, and detox their body.

Every cell in our bodies needs oxygen to function properly. So it’s no surprise that research shows that a regular practice of controlled breathing can decrease the effects of stress on the body and increase overall physical and mental health.

Learning diaphragmatic breathing and slowing the rate of breathing are the first steps in managing the symptoms of anxiety, anger and panic.

When someone is upset to the point of hyperventilating we get them to regulate their breathing. Pranayama is taking this even further by using very sophisticated breathing techniques that have very precise effects. 

Pranayama has immediate effects on the nervous system so is wonderful for calming, balancing and uplifting our mood in the moment. But practiced regularly pranayama has deeper and more long term effects. 

The ancient sages of India discovered these breathing techniques which are simple to practice and brought great relaxation to the body and mind, in preparation for meditation.

These breathing techniques can be practiced with ease and at any time of the day, ideally on an empty stomach.

Is your mind buzzing with activity? Can’t stop thinking about what someone said about you? Find a quiet corner and try the Bhramari pranayama (Bee breath) to apply brakes in the buzzing mind. This breathing technique is wonderful for those with hypertension.

Among the breathing techniques, Kapal Bhati pranayama (Skull Shining breathing technique) is considered the most important and effective for detoxifying the body and clearing the energy channels.

Low energy levels? Three rounds of Bhastrika pranayama (Bellow breath) will get your energy levels soaring!

Can’t concentrate on the task at hand? Try nine rounds of Nadi Shodhana pranayama (Alternate nostril breathing technique.)

Nadi Shodhana pranayama calms and centres the mind by bringing into harmony the left and right hemispheres of the brain which correlates to the logical and emotional sides of our personality.

If you would like to learn these techniques, see the details of my Pranayama and Meditation workshop below.

From reducing stress to getting better rest, these techniques have a demonstrated positive impact on quality of life.

Over 70 independent studies conducted on four continents and published in peer-reviewed journals, have demonstrated a comprehensive range of benefits from practicing Himalayan Yogic Pranayamas.

Pranayama techniques can restore balance to the stress response systems, calm an agitated mind, relieve symptoms of anxiety, improve physical health and endurance, elevate performance, and enhance relationships, improve confidence and decision-making, and provide relief from negative thinking and depression.

Pranayama is the art and science of yogic breathing techniques, and these techniques will reliably produce the above benefits when practiced consistently.

Breathing is something we do on a daily basis. The body, in a living state, breathes involuntarily whether we are awake, sleeping, or actively exercising.

Breathing is living. It is a vital function of life. In yoga, we refer to this as pranayama. Prana is a Sanskrit word that means life force and ayama means extending or stretching. Thus, the word “pranayama” translates to the control of life force. It is also known as the extension of breath.

Pranayama is also the practice of tuning and aligning our breath and our life force with the natural intelligence at work in all manifested reality. Everything in this world that appears static is actually vibrating. When we tune our prana we ensure that our whole being is vibrating at its optimal level.

There are a variety of breathing techniques that are known to reduce stress, aid in digestion, improve sleep, and calm you down.

If you would are interested to learn these techniques, see the details of my Pranayama and Meditation workshop below.

Introduction to Pranayama and Meditation, April 28, 10:30am-12:30pm at Raw Mojo.

In this two hour workshop we will explore simple yet powerful breathing techniques that you can bring into your daily life.

We will use breath to activate our prana, our vitality, balance and calm our mind and body and finish with a simple meditation practice.

You will leave with a variety of techniques that you can practice at home. There will be some gentle movement and stretching to ensure you remain supple and comfortable during the session.

There are limited spaces in our intimate studio so book in early to save a spot.

Totally suitable for beginners.

Bookings here

Hari om tat sat. Namaste. Blessings.

Christina at Raw Mojo