Yoga, an ancestral practice, can be defined as a dive into oneself, with the aim of balancing and unifying our whole being (Body-Soul-Spirit), thanks to the different body postures (Asanas) and breathing (Pranayama ) conscious.
Find the divine within you.
The original meaning of the Sanskrit word Yoga (योग) is “union with God”: the primary goal of yoga is the union of the individual Self with the Universal Self.
Discipline born in India, in the Harrapan valley around 2250 BC. J.C, Yoga would be a gift offered to humanity by the God Shiva, through Matsyendra, the little fish who became human, and who was the first yogi of all time.
The many benefits of yoga
Regular practice quickly brings about a real inner and outer transformation. With the harmonization of the body/mind/breath system, we feel a balance and serenity that increase our confidence in ourselves and in the universe. At the same time, our relationships with others improve.
The more one progresses in the practice, the more one gains in strength and physical and mental health, and experiences more satisfaction in the practice and in everyday life.
The many benefits include:
Strengthening of all muscle chains
Flexibility, Better endurance
Decreased blood pressure and heart rate
Reduction of stress and anxiety
Improved concentration, clearer mind
Openness to others and to spiritual evolution
Yoga is not only gymnastics but a holistic practice, that is to say, it conceives the human being in its entirety.
The practice does not stop with the end of the session, and the benefits are felt in all aspects of your life.
With the awareness of oneness of self with all things, we sharpen our ecological commitment, for we understand that Gaia is sacred, and that she needs each of us.
To go further in practice, we modify the quality of our diet, it becomes healthier and more balanced.
We experience more pleasure in daily discipline and self-transcendence: the flexibility of the body becomes flexibility of the mind!
The practice of yoga has become beneficial and essential for many. It will lead you to greater harmony in your life!
Mudras are hands gestures whose origin goes back to ancient India, several millennia ago.
Omnipresent in Hindu dances, they tell us the story of the manifestation of God in the universe.
Meaning
The Sanskrit word mudra means “sign”, or “seal”. It comes from the terms: “mud” which means bliss, happiness and “dhra” which means dissolution. Each mudra has a deep meaning and has a part of the magic of Life.
Ancient Vedic tradition
According to the ancient tradition, our five fingers represent the five building blocks, or the five main elements of the universe (called Panchamahabhootas ).
Each finger has its function and its power within our body. When the fingers touch, the “nadis” (subtle energy channels) are connected and particular energy vibrations are activated. The different elements that make up our body and the entire universe can associate and cooperate.
Relationships between the fingers and the elements, according to Vedic tradition.
The thumb is connected to the Fire (Agni)
The forefinger is linked to the Air (Vayu)
The middle finger is connected to the Ether, the Sky (Akasha)
The ring finger is connected to the Earth (Prithvi)
The little finger is connected to the Water (Jala)
It is worth mentioning that the 5 elements do not refers to the same concepts in the Indian and Chinese culture, the correspondences also change (learn more about the 5 Chinese elements here).
Benefits on health and well-being
Using mudras regularly is a natural way to improve your physical, mental and spiritual well-being.
Murdas is practiced by creating, with one’s fingers, particular forms that generate energy and subtle vibrations that care for the body and the mind.
It also includes the principle of Asanas (postures of yoga). Moreover, mudras are often referred to as ” finger yoga”.
Practiced regularly, the mudras improve our general health, and harmony body-spirit-universe.
Our hands can replace our eyes in the dark, they can also be used to communicate with our fellow humans and with the rest of the universe. Our hands are the first means of expression before one learn how to speak!
Our destiny rests in our hands, and this expression is to be taken literally and figuratively.