Mudras: Yoga in Your Hands

Mudras:
Yoga in Your Hands

"Within you there is a stillness and a sanctuary to which you can retreat at any time and be yourself."
~Hermann Hesse 

     Mudras are the birthplace of what we now call Jin Shin Jyutsu. One hundred years ago, when Master Jiro Murai was diagnosed with an incurable illness, he asked to brought to the family cabin in the mountains of Japan. His family was instructed to come back in 7 days to see the outcome. It is said that the intense use of mudras while sitting in meditation and fasting turned his life energy around. He passed through fevers and chills during those days before losing consciousness and subsequently coming back to himself, feeling that he was free of whatever had caused him to be so ill. Murai believed that the simple act of joining right hand with left hand would bring about a unity between body and mind. 

     Unlike animals who primarily use their noses and mouths to experience their environment, we explore our world with our hands. Touch is important to our human experience thanks to 17,000 tactile receptors on the hand. We have about 4000 nerve endings at the tips of our fingers, giving our fingertips one of the densest collections of nerve endings in the body. The nerve endings connect with the energetic pathways of our organs and can influence them, relax, stimulate or balance them. Our hands are therefore an energy map of our consciousness and health with areas of the hand corresponding to different systems of the body as well as our various attitudes. Through the simple act of  curling, crossing, stretching, and touching the fingers and palms, we access the energetic pathways that connect body, mind and spirit. All of this is what makes mudras effective tools for balance and well-being.

     Anywhere you are, while on a break, sitting at a red light while in your car, waiting at the checkout, at your office or home, stillness can be yours. Mudras are easily learned and with a little practice you can do them at any time and place. A knowledge of these mudras allows us to send energy to any part of our being.

     The mudra pictured above is one of the 8 mudras that are part of the Practice of Jin Shin Jyutsu. It is known in our tradition as "Inhaling the Purified Breath of Life." This finger pose relieves asthma, back tension/stress and brings general well-being to the whole body. It aids in easier breathing allowing us to receive the purified Breath of Life. This pose helps us to bring harmony to our total being. 

     Cynthia Broshi, International Jin Shin Jyutsu teacher, says, "Through their relationships the Mudras excavate, untangle and dissolve tensions. Singly and as a group they work with the relationship of Exhale and Inhale, building and breaking down. Some poses emphasize one or the other aspect of Breath, and utilizing each pose with the left and the right hand amplifies and blends these actions of Generation and Regeneration." 

     Our power to harmonize, balance, and heal is literally in our own hands. Learn more about this practice and awareness in MUDRAS and MINDFULNESS , a six-week course beginning on February 22. This course is an indepth study of Mary Burmeister's Self-Help Text, FUN with FINGERS and TOES: Jin Shin Jyutsu Physio-Philosophy. Join me for this in-depth study of harmonizing our energy channels through fingers and toes and the 8 Mudras of Jin Shin Jyutsu.

“Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths."
~Etty Hillesum
 

Take up Yoga!

  "Yoga is the perfect opportunity to be curious about who you are."
~Jason Crandell

     I love my yoga classes! Practicing yoga along with Jin Shin Jyutsu is a perfect combination for keeping a sense of balance in my life. In many of the restorative poses, I can do some simple self-help holds or mudras at the same time clearing blockages and restoring balance and well-being. I often suggest yoga to my clients as a support for the healing work that we do together. The practice of yoga brings with it a blissful peace in body, mind and spirit.

"Yoga, an ancient but perfect science, deals with the evolution of humanity.  This evolution includes all aspects of one's being, from bodily health to self-realization.  Yoga means union - the union of body with consciousness and consciousness with the soul.  Yoga cultivates the ways of maintaining a balanced attitude in day-to-day life and endows skill in the performance of one's actions."  ~B.K.S. Iyengar

     In his writing, 'The Meaning and Purpose of Yoga', Bhole Prabhu says that "Yoga defines itself as a science--that is, as a practical, methodical, and systematic discipline or set of techniques that have the lofty goal of helping human beings to become aware of their deepest nature. The goal of seeking to experience this deepest potential is not part of a religious process, but an experiential science of self-study. Religions seek to define what we should believe, while a practical science such as meditation is based on the concrete experience of those teachers and yogis who have previously used these techniques to experience the deepest Self. Yoga does not contradict or interfere with any religion, and may be practiced by everyone, whether they regard themselves as agnostics or members of a particular faith."

     There are many forms of yoga, so I suggest trying several until you find one that works for you. Many yoga studios have special deals for new students to try out different classes and instructors. Add yoga to your daily self-care routine and you will be surprised by a new peace of mind, sense of graceful movement and ease of breath!

"Blessed are the flexible,
for they shall not be bent out of shape."
~Author Unknown

Quietly Regenerating

"I prefer winter and fall, when you feel the bone structure of the landscape - the loneliness of it, the dead feeling of winter. Something waits beneath it, the whole story doesn't show."
~Andrew Wyeth

We would do well to welcome Winter as the season of reflection rather than fight its stillness and darkness. We are invited to celebrate the light within during this time of quiet regeneration.

In Winter, all of nature is called to rest. While the earth appears to be dormant, amazing stuff is happening below the surface. Preparation for the next growing season, the coming of spring, the bursting forth of life, and brilliant rebirth. This rebirth does not simply happen in Spring, rather it gestates all Winter, deep underground. It may appear on the surface that nothing is happening, blanketed in fallen leaves and snow, but know that often the most profound layers of growth occur underground. The soil rests while the decay and composting of organic matter along with the melting snow add nutritive elements to the earth, ensuring growth and fertility.

Winter is the time to go within and as humans we naturally slow down. Winter is supposed to be slow. It is the very nature of this quiet inner reflective time of winter, a hibernation of sorts, a time of rest and rejuvenation, to restore and regenerate the body systems.  We are quietly regenerating to be ready for the coming Spring and the creative energies that are required of us.

Nature is within the rhythms of our own bodies. By tuning into these rhythms and observing the changes that take place during the winter season, we can attune ourselves to a healthier Winter as we embrace the stillness and quiet regeneration. When we can find a way to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature, we find inner strength and deep reserves of energy and creativity.

"When we follow this season’s energetic impulse, the soul unfurls like a blanket of snow."
~Sheryl Paul

Self-Help Tip:
To energize and balance the rhythm of the winter months hold the index finger with the opposite hand for a few minutes or until you feel a rhythmic pulse. Holding the index finger will help us to go with the flow.

Self-Help Tip:
The key to Quietly Regenerating is Safety Energy Lock #25. It is located at the sit bones. Anatomically part of your pelvis (the ischial tuberosity), the sit bones are quite literally the bones under the flesh of the butt that you sit on.
Holding the 25's will relieve bodily tensions, lower back tensions, knee and leg discomfort while helping you maintain alertness and memory. This flow filters out all toxins released during physical activities and removes tiredness from the body to enjoy the benefits of exercise. The 25's relieve mental tension, bring us an energetic mind and a sound body, and takes care of our overall sense of vitality.
It is said that holding the 25's for 20 minutes per day does the equivalent for maintaining the body and mind in good shape as an hour and a half hour jogging session! The 25's can be helpful in appetite balance, to support weight loss and will clear out the colon.
Simply Sit on your hands (with the palms up or down, which ever is most comfortable for you). I do this simple flow myself most nights while watching TV with my family. If it is too hard on your hands to sit on them, I find that doing this while lying in bed is pretty easy too! The longer you can sit on your hands/hold your 25's, the more grounded you'll feel.

Balance Back Stress

I remember with awe my first look at my daughter's spine. It was at the initial ultrasound, pretty early on in the pregnancy, she was just a peanut but there was her spine. Beautiful and perfect, it reminded me of a strand of luminous pearls.

Embryologically, a detailed cascade of events must occur to result in the proper formation of both the musculoskeletal and neural elements of the spine.  The spine will become the structural support of the body as a whole and will be a conduit for safe passage of the neural elements. The spine is responsible for interaction with the brain. All of this is well underway at the 4th week after conception. Amazing!

So much depends on the proper functioning of our spine. It is small wonder that a backache can put us "Out of Commission"!

When I first discovered Jin Shin Jyutsu, I suffered from incapacitating back pain that had begun at age 10.  As a young child, my parents brought me to be checked out by the family doctor... He took one look at me and declared my hips to be uneven. He informed me that I would "always have back trouble." Thanks alot Doc! So I always had back trouble....he told me I would... so I did.

Jin Shin Jyutsu teaches us that all things are possible. I practice Jin Shin Jyutsu Self Help daily and now my back pain is gone most of the time. When there is a flair-up, I use my self help to get back in balance, usually within 24 hours. In the past, a flair-up meant weeks of recovery and pain.

I should tell you that it took about a year to see a big difference, although I felt improvement after a week or so of dedicated daily self-help. It has been since 2003 that I have made self-help a daily part of my life.  At that time, there we no other practitioners that I knew of in the area, so Jin Shin Jyutsu Sessions with a Practitioner were not possible, I had to depend on myself.

For back projects my self-help is simple. With one hand, HOLD the back of your head where your skull meets the spine. With the other hand HOLD your tailbone/sacrum area. This simple flow helps the life energy push through the stagnant places in the spine, strengthening the spine and balancing the energy that supports both bladder and kidney function energy ...among other things! 

You can begin your day with this flow before you even are fully awake. Then during the day, take a break and do this flow again. Once more at bedtime and this flow will help you sleep. Three times a day for 10-20 minutes, whatever you have time for, and you will be on your way to freeing yourself from back stress and pain. Use either the palm of your hand or the back of your hand, which ever will be the most comfortable for you.
Holding your index finger will also support this energy and is a simple hold to use during the day, in the middle of a meeting or watching a movie. Use the index finger at the first sign of pain or discomfort and you will feel the pain melt away.

To balance hips and shoulders, I hold the backs of my knees. This simple flow helps to balance shoulders and hips, opens the pelvis and relaxes tension in the body.

Another simple favorite of mine is to "sit on your hands"/hold your sitbones. This is the location of Safety Energy Lock 25, "Quietly Regenerating".

When you combine weekly sessions with dedicated daily self-help, and you will be amazed at the progress you will make! Learn how to dismiss stress. These flows are indeed simple and effective and will make a difference in your busy life! Be in Balance. You'll like it there!

"When you are enthusiastic about what you do, you feel this positive energy. It's very simple. Everything is possible."
~Paulo Coelho