Yoga Mudras Mantras and Meditations for Energy
By: Steph Ball-Mitchell, E-RYT-500, RPYT, RCYT, YACEP
By: Steph Ball-Mitchell, E-RYT-500, RPYT, RCYT, YACEP
Yoga Mudras Mantras and Meditations for Energy yoga, Mudras, Mantras and Meditations for Energy
Life force energy, or prana, is one of the most vital components of yoga practice. Through yoga, mudra, mantra, and meditation, we can begin to direct the flow of this life force energy throughout the body, mind, and soul – pushing us toward a higher state of consciousness.
But learning how to move the flow of energy in the body and combatting the perils of low energy and chronic fatigue is essential to create a truly balanced yoga practice. In this article, we will explore in greater depth the various ways to practice energizing yoga, mudras, mantras, and meditations to access the high vitality you have been dreaming of! Yoga Mudras Mantras and Meditations for Energy
Before determining which yoga practices to do to improve your energy, it is crucial to understand what the underlying cause is according to yoga and Ayurveda. When you identify the reason, you can truly get to the root of the issue and improve your energy once and for all!
According to yoga and Ayurveda, low energy is also known as low prana, the vital life force energy in the body. Low energy can also be from low ojas, the nectar of immunity, or low tejas, the inner fire. When any of these qualities are lacking, it can lead to low energy. Additionally, low energy can be from high tejas or high fire, which burns your inner prana and ojas, leading to depletion. Another way to understand this is the burnout a lot of people experience from overworking and living a “fiery” lifestyle.
In the yoga tradition, another way to understand how to address energy is by understanding the role of the gunas or the qualities of nature. There are 3 gunas, known as rajas, tamas, and sattva. Low energy is often considered a condition of high tamas, which is dense, heavy, and dark energy. But low energy can also come from high rajas, which is again a manifestation of the fiery, mobile, and hyperactive energies all around us. Both too much heaviness and too much exertion can lead to fatigue and low energy.
By understanding these factors, you can create a more customized approach to improving your energy. For example, if you struggle primarily with high tamas or heaviness and depression, then you may need a more energizing and uplifting practice to restore your energy levels. Whereas if your low energy is actually from overexertion and overworking through high rajas or high tejas, then you would benefit more from cooling, relaxing, and nourishing practices to restore your energy levels. This simple shift in perspective can help you truly address the root cause and improve your energy completely!
In each section below, we will explore various yoga, mudra, mantra, and meditation practices to improve your energy levels. Each of these practices is split into practices aimed at uplifting when you feel particularly depleted and need an added boost, as well as practices aimed at restoring and nourishing to help calm an overactive mind so that you can remain focused and connected.
Both of these approaches for improving your energy levels are highly beneficial, and they are just slightly different ways of approaching energizing yoga practices and finding balance in your body, mind, and soul. So, feel free to experiment and see what works best for you! The beauty of yoga practice is that it can be adapted to uniquely fit the needs of each individual.
Nearly every yoga pose has an impact on your energy levels. In yoga philosophy, we are taught to view the body as primarily an energetic system, and each yoga pose creates specific influences on the flow of energy or prana in the body. When combined with breathing practices or pranayama, you can exponentially increase the flow of energy anywhere in your body.
A standard guideline to understanding yoga for energy is that backbends uplift, awaken, and energize, whereas forward bends relax and restore the nervous system. Both are beneficial for energy levels but with slightly different approaches. By learning this simple guideline, you can get a better understanding of the impacts of yoga asana on your body, mind, and soul.
· Cobra Pose (Bhujangasana)
· Locust Pose (Salabhasana)
· Upward Facing Dog Pose (Urdhva Mukha Svanasana)
· Low Lunge Pose (Anjaneyasana)
· Upward Salute Pose (Urdhva Hastasana)
· Bow Pose (Dhanurasana)
· Camel Pose (Ustrasana)
· Fish Pose (Matsyasana)
· Bridge Pose (Setu Bandhasana)
· Sphinx Pose (Bhujangasana)
· Child’s Pose (Balasana)
· Cat and Cow Pose (Bitilasana and Marjariasana)
· Supine Spinal Twist Pose (Supta Matsyendrasana)
· Legs Up the Wall Pose (Viparita Karani)
Mudras are simple hand and body positions that influence the subtle flow of energy in the boy and mind. Mudras inherently work on the energetic level, so they are one of the body practices that directly target your energy, influence the flow through blockages, and clear out stagnation. Energizing mudras are one of the best ways to balance yourself while on the go without needing a mat or any props to support your practice.
You can combine mudras with your yoga asana, pranayama, or meditation practice to further increase these effects. It is best to try and practice a mudra for at least 10-minutes or more to feel the effects and regular daily practice is essential. The more you infuse mudras into your everyday life, then the more significant impact these practices can have on your overall wellbeing.
· Prana Mudra
· Anjali Mudra
· Padma Mudra
· Ganesha Mudra
· Kali Mudra
· Prithvi Mudra
· Prana Mudra
· Chin Mudra
· Vayu Mudra
· Surya Mudra
Chanting mantras regularly helps you tap into the cosmic vibrations of the universe, harmonizing your consciousness with the flow of energy all around you. At the core of energy is vibrational sound. In yoga philosophy, it is believed that the universe began from the energetic vibrations of the sound of AUM, and this energetic vibration or spanda continues to flow all around us, serving as the undercurrent for life.
Mantra helps you direct this flow of energy and break through stagnation or blockages in no time. For a deeper focus on the upliftment of energy, you can try chanting your mantras out loud along with calming music. But if you prefer a deeper inwardly restorative experience, then a mental recitation of a mantra can be more relaxing and help infuse these sacred words deeper into your consciousness.
· Gayatri Mantra
· Om Gam Ganapataye Namaha
· Om Namah Shivaya
· I am an overflowing fountain of energy.
· I have a limitless capacity of energy within me.
· My mind and body are vibrant and healthy.
· AUM
· Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti
· Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu
· I release what is no longer serving me.
· I give myself time to rest so I can return to life with vibrancy.
· I am selective with my energy – saying no to external things so that I can say yes to myself.
All meditation practice is inherently restorative and rejuvenating for your overall energy levels. Whenever you feel ungrounded or fatigued, taking even just a few minutes for meditation can restore your energy and revitalize your mind. Research shows that regular meditation practice can both improve your focus and concentration while restoring your nervous system and promoting deep relaxation at the same time.
With regular practice, meditation can help remove energetic blockages within you and release whatever you may have within your body and mind that is no longer serving you. On a deeper level, meditation is aimed at helping you uplift your consciousness to a higher level of awareness. With these multiple layers of subtle energetic influence, meditation practice can truly transform your life in no time.
· Mindfulness Meditation
· Chakra Meditation
· Visualization Meditation
· Walking Meditation
· Dancing Meditation
· Mantra Meditation
· Yoga Nidra
· Gratitude Meditation
· Progressive Muscle Relaxation Meditation
· Loving-Kindness Meditation
· Sound Bath Meditation
· Breath Awareness Meditation
Balancing your energy levels is genuinely an art form, and it takes constant awareness and deep self-understanding to truly uproot these issues once and for all. The beauty of yoga practices is that they inherently help you cultivate a deeper relationship with your inner self, allowing the answers you seek to arise naturally from within. No matter which energizing yoga, mudra, mantra, and meditation practices you choose, you will undoubtedly gain innumerable benefits in your life and improve your energy over time.
If you are interested in learning the principles of energizing yoga, mudra, mantra, meditation, and more, then make sure to check out our many online yoga continuing education and yoga teacher training courses! Our programs offer a unique combination of traditional philosophy and modern science to truly give you a well-rounded understanding of the roots of yoga. So, check out our online yoga teacher training courses for more information and to begin your exciting journey into the vast world of yoga!
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