The Flow

I am forever grateful to my amazing teacher Denise of One Song Yoga and her love for Mudras. They bring such positivity in my life, and a new one always seems to pop up right at the perfect moment. For this week, I have adopted Pushan Mudra, named after the God of Nourishment.

The science of Mudras is based on the principle that "The root cause of disease is the imbalance and improper co-ordination between these elements and proper balance between these elements is the secret of good health." The secret of health lies in hands, fingers and Mudras, which can be performed with the help of fingers.


The human body is composed of five basic elements and the five fingers of our hands represents these five basic elements. Ancient Sages discovered the knowledge of Mudras. By touching of hands to each other or folding fingers in a particular way, we can cure any disturbances in these five elements with the help of our fingers, we can keep the five elements in proper proportion, any disturbances in them can be balanced. So that our body become healthy.


This week I began my detox for the 40 Days to Transformation. I chose the Kitcheri cleanse over the fruit fast, considering I am much more familiar with this cleanse, as I do it seasonally, and I have all the supplies. Cash flow is a bit low this month! I also dedicated to a new mantra, which I will share later this week. Japa Meditations is the most effective way for me to direct my mind to that higher source of consciousness and sit for 20+ minutes. However, the following mudra I take with me throughout my day, and it provides such lovely affirmations.

Right hand: The tips of the thumb, index finger, and middle finger are on top of each other; the other fingers are extended.
Left hand: The tips of the thumb, middle finger, and ring finger are on top of each other; the other fingers are extended.

This mudra symbolizes accepting and receiving with the gesture of one hand and letting things flow, giving, and letting go with the gesture of the other. Both should be coordinated with each other in digestion. It influences the energy currents that are responsible for absorbing and utilizing food, as well as helping with elimination. It intensifies breathing and therefore the absorption of oxygen and the release of carbon dioxide in the lungs. It has a relaxing effect on the solar plexus (the area of the stomach, liver, spleen, and gallbladder), regulates energies in the autonomic nervous system, mobilizes energies of elimination, and detoxifies. It has an excellent effect on general or acute nausea, seasickness, flatulence, and that sensation of fullness one feels after meals.

During inhalation, take in energy in the form of light. During the pause in breathing, give it the time and space it needs to spread within you and become transformed. During exhalation, let the expended energy flow back out of you. With every breath, there is more light and clarity in your physical and mental-emotional realms.

Affirmation: thankfully accept everything that is good for me, let it have its effect within me, and release everything that is spent.

Breathing through This Day

Hello. Today is a hard day for me. Forgetsies, Dropsies, grumpy pants. These days happen. Fortunately I can remember what it feels like to be bright, confident and assured. Fortunately I have incredible teachers in my life that I can look forward to breathing with, and absorbing their wisdom. I plod through a frustrating day, and feel completely ineffective, poor, and lost. While I read about my adventurous Acro Yoga teacher rock climbing in Spain, taking coastal trains and delving into markets, cafes, parks and rooftops, I wish for a bit more freedom. But then I see an email about Northwest Herbalism training. Which costs money. And what about Ayurveda? What am I supposed to do next? But I can't even keep enough cash in my checking account to pay for the next local yoga workshop I want to take. And so on.

This is all just chatter. The fluctuations of the mind. So I breath in and calm my body, I breathe out and smile. I truly believe that the physical act of smiling creates the corresponding emotion in the mind! Which is why its so nice to cross your eyes at yourself in the morning as you brush your teeth!

The past few weeks I have been participating in a workshop led by my fellow teacher, Kiara Boch called 40 Days to Personal Transformation. I came into the workshop without a strong sense of committment, just my usual easy going nature to try it out, learn something new, and have fun. Well its not fun. Transformation is hard. The level of awareness that I am opening up to is quite challenging. The old, self-defeating tapes grow louder as I begin to recognize them, and try to change them. Have you every noticed that? Every time you try to break a bad habit, it seems to cling to you with increasing strength?

Om shanti shanti shanti