Shankh Mudra
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Shankh Mudra
Shankh Mudra is the shell mudra. When you practice this mudra, your hands resemble a conch shell one of the 4 things Dhanvantari holds. Dhanvantari is the god of Ayurveda sometimes called the celestial physician. To practice this mudra, encircle the thumb of the left hand with the index, middle, ring and pinkie fingers of your right hand. Extend the remaining fingers of the left hand and allow the right thumb to make contact with those fingers. Your hands should rest at your heart space.
Shankh mudra is associated with the throat or visshudha chakra. This mudra is practiced at temples and ashrams since the conch shell is often blown to announce the start of the day. By chanting OM while we practice the shankha mudra, we energize the throat and help to bring balance to the throat chakra.
“I use thoughts and words of strength and love, and everything that I think and speak comes back to me.”
QOTD: "What is your morning ritual?" I read my Ayurveda books in the morning as well as drink tea. I have an abundance of tea at home but they are all herbal. Caffeine is too rough on my stomach which isn't too surprising for a pitta dosha like me especially once I started learning about the Ayurvedic diet. I take a shower or bath in my jetted bathtub (I feel very lucky to have such a lovely bathtub). I often add organic bath salts or essential oil depending on what needs healing that day. After I bathe I do a light abhyanga massage with my pitta oil comprised of coconut, rose and sandalwood oils. Then I usually do some light relaxing yoga since I mostly take yoga classes at night (I used to always do yoga in the morning but since my hip has been bothering me, I like to be more warmed up before diving into a full yoga class). I'm not much of a breakfast person but if I'm particularly hungry in the morning I'll have some dried or fresh fruit. I've been trying to make meditation a part of my daily morning routine and I meditate as much as I can in the morning if time allows. I use my mala beads and chant whichever mantra I'm working on that day or week.
