Yoga Musings - Mudra

Jnana Mudra, one of the most common mudras of hatha yoga. Simple but powerful. The circle of the index finger and thumb is a symbol of union and wholeness. This mudra has a calming effect, brings clarity and improves concentration. A perfect mudra for a moment of seated stillness... 

Today's Practice

A restorative practice...
"Let your body love what it loves, and what it loves are gentle yet powerful things, same as the way you must care for it. Subtle habits and small daily rituals. Roots and sweet solitude. The call, connection and resonance. Beauty and the elements. Full fledged feeling, and wilderness and walking home, and the fiery freedom to sometimes surrender." words by Victoria Erickson

Path to your innermost self

“The first creative task is to free the body to experience the power of being. Your body is the ground metaphor of your life, the expression of your existence. It is your Bible, your encyclopedia, your life story. Only when you truly inhabit your body can you begin the healing journey.”

~Gabrielle Roth, Maps to Ecstasy

More and more I feel called to let go of how a yoga practice “should look like.” I move, listen, exploring new pathways. Sometimes I just combine it all into a dancing “asana” flow ending with stillness, which I have come to realize is the most direct path to my innermost self. 

What is YOUR most direct path to your innermost self?

Yoga Musings ~ Mudra

Shivalinga Mudra. 

Mudra means seal. Mudras are healing mysterious gestures that anyone can enjoy and benefit from. I use the shivalinga mudra quite often in my own practice. This mudra gives me an uplifting sensation throughout my whole body, it makes me feel calm, clear and recharged.

Take a comfortable seat. Place your left hands at the level of your navel, palm facing up. Extend your thumb up and curl in the other four fingers of your right hand. Place your right hand on top of your left palm.

Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. Imagine cleansing water flowing throughout your whole body, helping your clear out and release what’s no longer serving you. When you are ready let it all dissolve into the earth, release it and let it go. Use your breath as a way of releasing and letting go. Take your time and when you’re done with that process feel the stillness within. Silently begin to repeat; healing light illuminates every part of my body. Sit for as long as you feel comfortable. 

I hope you find this mudra-meditation-visualization as helpful as I have. 

Namaste, Helén

If you wish to explore more about mudras I can recommend the book; Mudras, Yoga in your hands by Gertrud Hirschi

Surrender...

"Let your practice be a refuge from the need to control." words by Rolf Gates
This is such an important reminder. An invitation to surrender to the flow and let go of the outcome. This way we can be more open to the healing powers the practice has to offer us. 
~ I surrender to the magical journey ~

Soul-care Sunday

Connecting to nature. Movement. Stillness. Balance. 

How can you care for your soul today? 

Love & Namaste, Helén

Reflection Friday

Aparigraha - non-attachment, non-possessiveness

Yoga Sutra, ch 2, v 39: One who is not attached or possessive is secure.

We can also think of this as not holding on or letting go. First we need to recognize what it is that we are holding on to, what we are attached to, what we are afraid of loosing. Take a moment for an inner inventory; what are you attached to? what are you holding on to? Allow your feelings and thoughts to rise to the surface and tune into your breathing. Just sit with the sensations for a moment and breathe deeply into them. As you breathe allow yourself to release and let go of these old thoughts, attachments and judgements. Notice how your body feels when you let go. 

Love & Namaste, Helén

A Sacred Space

The beauty in having a sacred space... "You must have a room or a place where you can simply experience and bring forth what you are, and what you might be... At first you may find nothing's happening... But if you have a sacred place and use it, take advantage of it, something will happen. Words by Joseph Campbell

Do you have a sacred space?

December Theme - Letting Go

Hello & Happy December!

This month’s theme is Letting Go. I thought that this theme could be good for the last month of the year. We need to release and let go to be able to bring in new things in our life. 

What is no longer serving your highest good?

Letting go of unhealthy habits, regrets, negative stories, shame, anger and maybe even some material things can be a very liberating feeling. 

Letting go is about releasing, transmuting and transforming energy, thoughts and actions. By letting go we free ourselves from what is blocking us and holding us back so we can experience a change in the future.

We use our practice; breath, movement, asanas, intention setting, nurturing rituals to release and letting go. 

What are you ready to let go of?

Namaste, Helén