Garuda Mudra
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Garuda Mudra
Garuda Mudra is the mudra of the mystical bird, Garuda. Place your right hand on top of your left and clasp the thumbs. Extend the fingers outward like your fingers are the wings of a bird. Your hands should rest at your lower belly at the site of the 2nd chakra, the svadhisthana chakra. Stay at this position for 10 breaths and then raise the hands to your navel and solar plexus chakra, the manipura chakra. Stay at this position for 10 breaths and raise the hands to the sternum and the heart chakra, the anahata chakra. Hold at this position for 10 breaths and then let your hands fly away towards your shoulders, spreading the fingers and hands outwards.
Garuda mudra is associated with the element of air which is the dominant element of Vata dosha. It is also associated with vyana vayu or the energy of circulation. This mudra has an affinity for the circulation of blood which then nourishes the organs and balances the energy in the ida and pingala nadis. To me, this mudra symbolizes a gesture of gratitude. I feel very grateful for life right now. Many things feel like they're falling into place and it feels great to finally be out of a state of flux. I've been actively reminding myself how much I have to be grateful for and that helps me when I start any kind of negative thinking. I'm very lucky to have such a wonderful family, husband and friends. I'm lucky to have found my calling with Ayurveda and I'm so excited to take the next steps in my journey.
“I am inwardly free. I get what is due to me, and I live in harmony with my world.”
QOTD: "What do you do to keep your soul and spirit free? What makes your beautiful heart keep beating?" I'd have to say LOVE. Love for myself. Love for my family. Love for my partner. Love for my friends. Love for those around me. Love for the world. My beautiful friend introduced me to the wonderful practice of Metta Meditation. Practicing this meditation fills my heart with love. It goes like this:
May I be happy
May I be peaceful
May I live with ease of heart
(Then you think of someone you love)
May you be happy
May you be peaceful
May you live with ease of heart
(Then you think of someone you feel neutrally about or someone you don't really know but may interact with)
May you be happy
May you be peaceful
May you live with ease of heart
(Then you think of someone you have difficultly with and repeat the 3 sentences above)
(Lastly you imagine the entire world and all sentient beings)
May all sentient beings be happy
May all sentient beings be peaceful
May all sentient beings live with ease of heart
