Alphabetical Benefits of Yoga - M

M is for #Mudras Mudras can be translated to mean a seal or a symbol. Mudras can be eye positions, postures and breath but here I'll focus on hand mudras. These mudras are accessible to nearly everybody, you can do them when standing, sitting or laying down. Through choosing to place our fingers in a particular way we are choosing to channel our thoughts a certain direction giving us a physical relation to what we may want to meditate toward or an energy we would like to invoke within us. In Ayurvedic philosophy each finger represents a different element within us, the thumb represent fire, index finger represents air, middle finger ether, ring finger earth and little finger water. We can summon these different energies within by just connecting our fingers in certain ways. Our meridians which are the energy paths that run through our bodies have an influence on our digestion, circulation and respiration. The beginning or ending points of the meridians are in the hands or feet so when you mindfully position your hands a certain way you may be altering the pranic movement and energy within your body. Personally I love to use mudras to physically connect to an intention. Some of my favourites:

Padma mudra: A symbol of connection, love, gratitude, goodwill. You can imagine your breath as a light representing love around your heart, expanding with each breath.

Jnana mudra: The extended fingers represent letting go of obstacles and  the closed circle represents union. Feel where your breath is in your body.. Now turn your hand to face down, this is chin mudra. Where do you feel your breath now? Is may be that during Jnana you feel your breath in the top half of your body and chin mudra you feel your breath in the lower half. An example of how mudras can alter the pranic flow!

Dhyana Mudra: Dhyana means meditation, it is a mudra which allows us to tune into the rhythym of our breath allowing us to sit in meditation for longer with an awarness of our breath throughout the body and the subtle body. For me, this mudra helps me to calm down and stay in the present moment.

L is for love

I wasn't sure if I should do a post on the lungs, the ligaments, the lats or how yoga can show you self love, respect and appreciation. Then I saw that one of my teachers had posted this poem. This poem captures how I feel when I step on my mat. When I truly let myself just be and feel a knowledge within. Prehaps this wanes during the day but just to have that reminder is worth it ❤ So yes perhaps it's worth writing about love. With love comes respect, patience and compassion, self love can allow yourself to be loved and love others in return. When we give ourselves a moment of our own time to tune in and remind ourselves what this big world is really all about it can give us a sense of grounding and ease. When I started giving yoga classes I was quiet shy using words such as love or compassion. I think it was because I wasn't used to hearing or even saying 'love yourself' 'I love myself' Why is it so frowned upon to speak positively about ourselves. I truly feel that what we think and say is manifested by the universe so try to think positivly about yourself and notice how you start responding to those around you. It feels that we are at a time of change where love, respect, compassion and kindness are needed more than ever so let's start with ourselves and allow it shine through the universe. We are all love, we are all light, we are (like it or lump it) all in this together. Ps I want to say that the poem is written by Charlie Chaplin but I've recently read an article questioning this. Definitely not written by me😂