Category: meditation

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Get your communication humming with mantra practice

As you rise up into the energy of the throat chakra, you will begin to notice a shift in energy. Each of the four lower chakras corresponds energetically to a physical element. By the time you reach the throat, you are moving out of the physical plane and into the non-physical realm of ether.

Vissudha, the Sanskrit word for the throat chakra, literally means purification. In the throat Chakradance, we chant and sing to cleanse the throat chakra, and enhance our ability for self-expression. 

The non-physical element associated with Vissudha is ether, the field of subtle vibrations surrounding all things. The throat chakra, more than any other, governs our relationship with vibrations and resonance.

It is from the throat centre that you produce sound through vibration. As such it is incredibly susceptible to vibrational energy, and responsive to resonance of all kinds.

Chanting and humming, listening to vibrational sounds are among the best ways to clear and balance this chakra. 

Physiologically this chakra governs the health of the throat, nose, ears, mouth, neck and vocal cords, as well as the thyroid and parathyroid glands, which are responsible for our metabolism.

The throat chakra carries the energies of truth, integrity, honesty and communication. It also governs the ability to listen, both to the words of others and your own internal dialogue within your body. 

The throat chakra energy is resonant with authenticity and purification. Paramount to Vissudha, is the expression of self through speech and creativity. Finding your true voice.

With our words we create our world. In this energy of Vissudha you are called to correct your intellect and move towards greater clarity and understanding, to know the power of your words as a generator of meaning, that your communication may become a transmitter of compassion and the radiance of love.

In the words of Hafiz, “the words you speak become the house you live in.”

The Humming Breath is a wonderful pranayama or breath practice to stimulate the throat chakra.

Sit in a comfortable position with a straight spine.

Begin by exhaling as much air as possible from your lungs before taking in a deep, slow breath through your nose, refilling your lungs.

On your next exhalation, make a soft humming sound like a bee.

When you run out of breath, take another deep inhalation, continuing the humming sound as you exhale.

Begin with a few minutes practice, working up to 10-15 minutes at a time. 

Now play the video and chant the mantra “ham” pronounced “hum” as you exhale.

When you have finished your humming breath and mantra practice, lie down and relax for a few minutes.

Let your humming throat chakra energy fuel your self-expression in your day.

Hari om tat sat. Namaste. Blessings.

ॐ

Sattva Yoga Flow + Chakradance classes

The beautiful art work used is Throat Chakra by Qahira Lynn

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7 Days 7 Mudras Day 7 Namaskar Mudra

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.

NEW YEAR NEW YOU

Why a new you? There’s nothing wrong with the ‘old you’ but the only real constant in life is change. So you can make this change conscious, harnessing intention and practice to steer change in an evolutionary direction, or you can just be at the mercy of old, unconscious behavioural patterns and programming.

New Year is a wonderful time to set the intention of renewal. But really our cells are renewing constantly so we can renew our body anytime.

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

ॐ

Check out upcoming Sattva Yoga and Chakradance classes here

Imagecredit: yogapedia.com
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7 Days 7 Mudras Day 6 Kamala Mudra

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.

NEW YEAR NEW YOU

Why a new you? There’s nothing wrong with the ‘old you’ but the only real constant in life is change. So you can make this change conscious, harnessing intention and practice to steer change in an evolutionary direction, or you can just be at the mercy of old, unconscious behavioural patterns and programming.

New Year is a wonderful time to set the intention of renewal. But really our cells are renewing constantly so we can renew our body anytime.

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

ॐ

Check out upcoming Sattva Yoga and Chakradance classes here

Imagecredit: yogapedia.com
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7 Days 7 Mudras Day 4 Varun Mudra

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.

NEW YEAR NEW YOU

Why a new you? There’s nothing wrong with the ‘old you’ but the only real constant in life is change. So you can make this change conscious, harnessing intention and practice to steer change in an evolutionary direction, or you can just be at the mercy of old, unconscious behavioural patterns and programming.

New Year is a wonderful time to set the intention of renewal. But really our cells are renewing constantly so we can renew our body anytime.

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

ॐ

Check out upcoming Sattva Yoga and Chakradance classes here

Imagecredit: yogapedia.com
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7 Days 7 Mudras Day 3 Yoni Mudra

image

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.

NEW YEAR NEW YOU

Why a new you? There’s nothing wrong with the ‘old you’ but the only real constant in life is change. So you can make this change conscious, harnessing intention and practice to steer change in an evolutionary direction, or you can just be at the mercy of old, unconscious behavioural patterns and programming.

New Year is a wonderful time to set the intention of renewal. But really our cells are renewing constantly so we can renew our body anytime.

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

ॐ

Check out upcoming Sattva Yoga and Chakradance classes here

Posted on

7 Days 7 Mudras Day 1 Gyana Mudra

7 daya7mudrasGyan-mudra-1024x683.jpg

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.

NEW YEAR NEW YOU

Why a new you? There’s nothing wrong with the ‘old you’ but the only real constant in life is change. So you can make this change conscious, harnessing intention and practice to steer change in an evolutionary direction, or you can just be at the mercy of old, unconscious behavioural patterns and programming.

New Year is a wonderful time to set the intention of renewal. But really our cells are renewing constantly so we can renew our body anytime.

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

ॐ

Check out upcoming Sattva Yoga and Chakradance classes here

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7 Days 7 Mudras

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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 body’s reflex stimuli 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.

NEW YEAR NEW YOU

Why a new you? There’s nothing wrong with the ‘old you’ but the only real constant in life is change. So you can make this change conscious, harnessing intention and practice to steer change in an evolutionary direction, or you can just be at the mercy of old, unconscious behavioural patterns and programming.

New Year is a wonderful time to set the intention of renewal. But really our cells are renewing constantly so we can renew our body anytime.

Mudras are a powerful component of Sattva Yoga as well as a technology you can use on it’s 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.

Hari om tat sat. Namaste. Blessings.

Christina at Raw Mojo

ॐ

Check out upcoming Sattva Yoga and Chakradance classes here

Imagecredit: zennedout.com
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Mantra Your Base Chakra 

Mantras are specific sounds which have long been used to activate the chakras by chanting the sound that resonates to the particular chakra vibration.

Sound is probably THE most powerful way to activate and balance your chakra system.

When I was in India I visited an ayurvedic doctor who prescribed mantra meditation for me.

He noticed my base/root chakra Muladhara – which literally means root support – needed activating. An underactive root chakra had left me feeling dizzy, disconnected and unsupported in life.

So let’s start at the root and practise this daily for 7 days and each week I will guide you through the next chakra meditation using freely available videos on YouTube.

Here’s the video with the mantra sound you can chant along to.

To begin, sit comfortably with your butt or feet connected to the floor. Really feel that connection to the solid earth supporting you. As you breathe in draw energy through your root chakra at the base of your spine, around your pelvic floor for women and sexual organs for men.

Draw this energy into to your base chakra, located at the base of your spine. You may like to visualise the colour red here. 

Tighten your pelvic floor muscles, sexual and anal muscles – or Moola bandha, the root lock – hold the breath and the energy at your base chakra. Then as you exhale chant the mantra “Lam.”

Let the sound be your exhale. Feel the sound vibrating through your base chakra. Imagine the sound pushing down through your root chakra as you connect with the earth.

If it feels like too much to focus on the breathing and the bandha and the sound, just focus on the sound and put your attention onto the base of your spine. 

I find our energy body meets us where we are, responding to the intention and the sound vibration, so you don’t need to do it perfectly. You can always fine-tune the practice as you get used to it.

Having a balanced root chakra will help you feel secure, grounded and provide ease of physical movement.

It will also provide a good foundation for your whole chakra system.

Repeat this for a few minutes each day and notice how much more present and stable you feel.

Hari Om Tat Sat. Namaste. Blessings.

ॐ

Base Chakradance Journey this Sunday

Try Chakradance – Rhythm for your soul

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Balancing stress, sleep and hormones through your Third Eye Chakra 

It is easy to dismiss the third eye chakra as being a bit woo-woo. I mean it’s all about psychic abilities and visions isn’t it?

Well yes, and no.

The third eye chakra is certainly pertinent to our sixth sense or intuition. But that’s only half the story.

This chakra, known as Ajna in Indian Sanskrit, is believed to be the command centre of our energy body, where our main energy channels meet and intersect. But beyond this, the third eye chakra is also associated with the pineal gland which has several key functions which are absolutely vital to our health and wellbeing.

The pineal gland regulates melatonin. While many of us know this as the hormone that regulates sleep, it also regulates our absorption of light and keeps our circadian (biological) rhythm in balance. The circadian rhythm governs our sleep-wake cycle, which in turn triggers a whole host of biological functions that happen according to whether the body is asleep or awake.

There is evidence that this relationship between light and melatonin levels may have a balancing effect on female hormones and the menstrual cycle.

Melatonin has also been found to have a positive effect on cardiovascular health and blood pressure. It reduces hypertension, or high blood pressure.

The pineal gland is also linked to mood and mood disorders, with findings that a lower pineal gland volume may contribute to developing schizophrenia and other mood disorders.

In addition, studies are finding links between melatonin levels and some cancers, and a possible beneficial effect of increased melatonin levels in cancer recovery.

While there is much to learn and understand about the pineal gland, it is clear that it performs a balancing function in the human body, through the endocrine or hormonal system.

In the Hindu-tantric tradition, the third eye is the energy centre that unites the major energetic channels as well as balancing the intellect and intuition.

Here at ajna, the three major nadis merge, the Ida, Pingala and Sushumna, creating the Mukta (meaning freedom or liberation) Triveni. From an energetic perspective, the Hindu-tantric texts which describe the chakras and corresponding nadis, or energy channels, described ajna as the twofold “see” and “command” function of the chakra system. It is understood to be the monitoring centre of the entire energy system, including the mind, as it oversees both intuition and intellect.

So there you have it, aside from being the centre of the sixth sense, the third eye chakra is the command centre of balance in the physical (and energy) body as well. Not so woo-woo after all!

Would you love to awaken your inner vitality and wellbeing? To feel balanced, centred, joyful and free?

Sometimes all you need is a map or a practice to guide you back to your inner sense of authenticity, vibrancy and freedom.

Chakradance is designed to do just that.

Chakradance is a holistic (mind, body, spirit) wellbeing modality – a fusion of ancient wisdoms and modern music. Think of it as a kind of musical sister of yoga, but without the set asanas.

It uses very specific music, created to resonate with each in turn of the 7 major chakras, with free-form movement and mandala art-making at the end of each class, to help integrate whatever has come up for participants in the dance.

Chakradance is sound healing, movement and meditation all rolled into one relaxing and enjoyable practice. Why not try it for yourself?

Hari om tat sat. Namaste. Blessings.

Christina at Raw Mojo

ॐ

Third Eye Chakradance this Thursday 6 September at The Revitalise Centre

Third Eye Journeying Chakradance Sunday 2 September at Raw Mojo Chakradance here

Try Chakradance – Rhythm for your soul

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Mantra Your Heart Chakra 

The Sanskrit name for the heart chakra is Anahata or ‘un-struck’ – in the Indian Vedic tradition there are two kinds of sounds, and ‘unstruck’ means an inner resonance or subtle vibration that is perceived through the heart centre.

The heart is the place of the awakened self. Here we move from group consciousness, defined by family, tribe, society into a more individual, self-reflective consciousness. Here we find our own heart truths.

This chakra builds a bridge between the physical and spiritual dimensions of your self. Carl Jung described the heart chakra as the centre of thinking and feeling, the beginning of reflections, values, and ideas.

Bring your hands palm to palm, in prayer position in front of your chest, connect the base of your thumbs to your sternum – this position is called Anjali Mudra.

Breathe into your belly and lightly close your eyes. Turn your focus to your breath.

Next, rub your palms together vigorously. Bring your right palm to the centre of your chest at Anahata and place your left on top of your right.

Feel the warmth and radiance of your heart and chest. Visualize the green, radiant glowing light emanating from your heart, in all directions.

Play the video and begin to sound the mantra “yam” pronounced “yum.” (This is the seed mantra of the element air. The heart centre is associated with the cosmic element of “prana” or “air.”)

(Note: this video goes for about an hour so you may want to set a timer for a shorter period of time, say 5-10 minutes)

Release your palms to face up on your lap. Direct some of your lightness and heart energy to someone in your life in need of compassion or healing. Finally, inhale your arms overhead and exhale your arms down to connect to the Earth before completing your practice.

Carry this open and loving heart energy with you into your day. Yum.

Come and dance the Heart Chakradance Journey with us, save your spot here

Hari om tat sat. Namaste. Blessings,

Christina

ॐ

Heart Chakradance this Thursday 23 August at The Revitalise Centre 

Upcoming events at Raw Mojo Chakradance here