‘Hridaya’ is the Spiritual Heart, and according to yoga, is known to be the root of the higher mind and feelings.
“I Am Filled With the Fountain of Loving Kindness.”
Touching and connecting with your Heart can feel comforting, nourishing, and bring deeper positive truths to light, such as ‘the Divine is always here, no matter how difficult things may be or feel’ and ‘I am not alone’. Your wise and ancient Heart is your truth-teller bringing authenticity and depth into all of life’s ups and downs.
One of the issues most people face is being too hard on oneself, and lacking kindness towards oneself. Hridaya Mudra invites you to bypass the ‘thinking’ mind where all judgments arise from, to rest in the cradle of the heart, which is a fountain of loving-kindness towards yourself.
On the physical and energetic level, Hridaya Mudra helps to direct energy and breath upward to increase the health of the immune system, heart and lungs, allowing breathing to be lighter and more efficient. It also:
- Offers support and consolation with challenging times and feelings.
- Can release tension from the chest to create fuller breath.
- Allows greater trust and emotional balance to develop.
- Calls in the Higher Wisdom within one’s Ancient Heart.
- Allows one to be kind to oneself.
HOW TO
Right hand rests on the sternum at the center of the chest; Left hand rests on right hand.
Begin with 5-10 natural breaths and increase the number of breaths weekly to your practice. State the affirmation (or create your own from your heart) three times aloud and silently. Notice what you feel.
Information provided here is used by permission and modified from Mudras for Healing and Transformation by Joseph and Lilian LePage, Integrative Yoga Therapy.
