Mudra’s are subtle yet amazing. My favourites are a set of 4 Hastha Mudras (hand gestures) that ease and assist breathing by activating the surface area of the lungs. The breath is such an important part of Yoga practice, & indeed life! yet astonishingly many of us have inefficient breathing habits.
Mudras work by using gestures of the body (or part of the body) to influence mood or activity. You can often tell by looking at someone’s posture or gait how they are feeling. In Yoga, we use Mudras to influence our mood, instead of allowing our mood to determine our posture. I regularly incorporate Hastha Mudras into the Pranayama (breath) component of class.
The exhale is one of the body’s primary methods of releasing toxins & an efficient inhale is vital to nourish muscles, so it is worthwhile checking in with your breathing habits. If you can maintain good oxygen levels throughout your Asana practice, you significantly reduce your risk of post exercise muscle soreness. Not to mention, Yoga is a practice of the mind and control over the breath is the secret to gaining control over the mind.
One of the things I’ve noticed about my breathing habits is that I hold my breath when I’m concentrating. Observe yourself & see what you can notice about your breathing patterns. Is your breath shallow or deep? Does your belly & / or chest expand when you breathe? Do your ribs expand sideways or does your breath touch the back of your ribs? In quieter moments you can watch the pauses between breaths, and even notice if the breath touches one nostril more fully than the other, and the temperature of the air as you inhale & exhale. Take 5 mins to try some of these things, you may be surprised at what you notice and how you can improve your breathing habits purely by passive observation.
Namaste, Penelope
