One of my favourite “keep it simple” definitions of Mudras is “Ancient gestures to ease modern stress”
(Emily Williams)
Mudras can have multiple meanings :
* Gesture
* Seal
* Closure
* Mystic position of the hands, eyes, body postures, breathing techniques etc
The great thing about Mudras is that they can influence our energy, therefore can be used as a great tool to compliment yoga or meditation practice.
Associated Benefits of Mudra Meditation :
- Increases concentration
- Improves co-ordination
- Improves clear thinking and mental alertness
- Cerebral activity is calmed and regenerated
- Synchronisation of the right and left hemispheres of the brain
- Promotes memory and general ability to recollect
- Improves creativity
- Improves emotional wellbeing and regulates mood
- When practiced consciously they activate the large areas of the brain.
As yoga teachers or students we can get caught up in thinking yoga is just about doing all of the fancy poses. Learning more about Mudras and integrating them into your practice or perhaps Mudra Meditation IS your practice, helps broaden the scope for how we practice yoga and how it can help. This is one of the most accessible forms of Yoga , especially if someone is bed ridden or incapacitated in some way. The hands, breath and visualisation can become powerful tools in waking up and rebuilding new neural pathways that govern areas of the body that maybe compromised.
Coming out of the box of mainstream yoga that we have to be able to do a downward dog or a sun salute or even touch our toes to practice yoga. Bringing Mudras into our yoga practice and modern day lives can help us heal and give us a pathway to insight and transformation just as much as standing on your head or getting your leg around your head (if not better dare I say) as more people can access simple hand gestures or breath work.
Mudras are easy to learn, anyone can practice them, all ages, shapes, sizes.
They can be one way to help you practice Mindfulness because they can help relieve suffering and stress.
Below is one of my most practiced Mudras
This Ganesh Mudra not only helps remove obstacles for the year ahead, it helps build a healthy perspective, confidence & trust that obstacles you’ve come across are put on your path to redirect you when you need it. Appreciating the challenges from this year is one way to take the practice of yoga into your own hands. The path that is your true path is one that is created step by step by you.
Namaste
Tammy
For those wanting to learn more about Mudra Mindfulness and More or Take your teaching of Yoga to the next Level
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