Author: Anna Godfrey

Balancing Mental Health with Apan Vayu Mudra, Gyan Mudra, and Prana Mudra

“The truth is that stress doesn’t come from your boss, your kids, your spouse, traffic jams, health challenges, or other circumstances. It comes from your thoughts about your circumstances.”

Mudras are ancient gestures used in yoga that are said to alter the flow of energy in your body.
You can release trapped energy and let it to flow more freely via your nadis (energy channels) by consciously channeling your energy.
You are also creating contact with the various nerve endings throughout your hands whenever you use a mudra, which undoubtedly impacts the way energy moves throughout your body on a measurable scientific level.
When you use mudras to balance your body, relax your mind, and facilitate energy flow, you can have a great impact on your general mental health whether you use them during the day or when practicing meditation.
Three particular mudras have been chosen that can be used to promote mental clarity and health: Apan Vayu Mudra, Gyan Mudra, Prana Mudra
1. Apan Vayu Mudra
To form this mudra, press the pad of your index finger to the base of your thumb. The pads of your middle and ring finger come to join the tip of your thumb while your pinky extends outward.
This mudra is believed to regulate your hormones and has been said to work very well for people who experience anxiety, impulsivity, and hyper-vigilance.
It is known to be a very powerful mudra in India and has been historically believed to prevent and treat cardiac problems like heart attacks. It is advised to practice this mudra for 30 to 45 minutes per day when used for this purpose.
The risk for cardiac disease is higher for people who experience severe anxiety as it tends to increase the heart rate and create stress on the heart, which makes this mudra a great one to practice to support overall health and foster the mind-body connection.
2. Gyan Mudra
This mudra is formed by touching the pads of the thumb and index finger, and relaxing the remaining fingers outward. It is the mudra you see most often when meditation is depicted or imitated in the media.
It has been said to facilitate mental alertness, memory, enhance mood, and connect you to Source and your Higher Self.
It is also said to eradicate the dull stagnant energy from the body. Some people report a strong sensation of energy buzzing and moving on the pads of the thumb and index finger, and this could be related to an energetic elimination of stuck energy.
3. Prana Mudra
To form this mudra, extend your index and middle finger outward, while touching the pads of your ring and pinky fingers to your thumb pad.
It is believed to improve your eye health and assist with combating fatigue by stimulating the dormant energy or prana within your body. It is called the prana mudra for this reason.
This mudra could be helpful for someone, who is experiencing hormonal imbalances that cause lethargy or symptoms of depression, to create more energy and liveliness.
  • 1. Apan Vayu Mudra
  • 2. Gyan Mudra
  • 3. Prana Mudra

Transform Your Life with Shadow Work: A Step-by-Step Guide

“If you realize you have enough, you are truly rich.”

Shadow work is a potent form of self-reflection that entails discovering and integrating your unconscious, hidden sides. Having a shadow work ritual in place provides a structured and intentional space for delving into the depths of your psyche. Additionally, it makes the act of connecting with your shadow self more intentional and concentrated by establishing an empowering pattern.
The following steps can help you begin your shadow work routine:
Step 1: Set the Scene
Working in the shadows means having a private discussion with your shadow self. Establish a peaceful, cozy area where you won’t be bothered. Use soft lighting, intention candles, sage or incense, and perhaps some calming music to set the atmosphere. I would recommend tuning in to theta waves or solfeggio frequencies. Try both and decide which one is more comfortable for you!
Recording your shadow work sessions is helpful to your progression, so you may also want to have a journal and pen nearby.
Step 2: Ground Yourself
Make yourself comfortable. Make sure you’re not wearing any restrictive or tight clothing. Take away anything that weighs you down.
Now inhale deeply from your abdomen. Breathe out through your lips.
What do you feel underneath you?
What can you hear?
Do you notice any scents in the air?
Is the air warm or cool?
Do you need to lower your shoulders, unclench your jaw, soften your brows, release your stomach?
There’s a little glowing red ball of light right underneath you. Say hello to your root chakra, little one 🙂.
Can you make it grow, until you’re able to safely hold it in your palms? Picture your hands feeling warm from a grandmother’s touch. This little red ball of light likes to stay at the base of your spine, where it feels close to earth. It invites you to sit with it, to keep it warm and steady, where it can collaborate with the roots of the planet.
Let it remind you that you and earth are connected.
Step 3: Identify Triggers
During the process of centering oneself, did any feelings surface? If not, consider recent events or circumstances that made you feel strongly affected. Perhaps a persistently bothering event or an unresolved issue. Was there anything that happened in the last day or week that left you feeling afraid, confused, upset, or angry?
In your journal, note this trigger and your feelings about it. If you’re not sure how to describe your sentiments, you can utilize terms from the wheel of emotions.
Step 4: Journaling
Begin to explore the emotions associated with your triggers. Recall that triggers are merely an impediment to the healing process. Write about anything and everything that seems relevant, even the silly details.
Allow yourself to feel compassion for your own humanness. Be open to delving deeper into your inner life. It’s okay to be open and vulnerable. You become one with your shadow in this way.

Ayurveda Recipes: Refreshing Lemongrass Carrot Soup

The fragrant essential oils of lemongrass will fill your kitchen with the scent of Asian cooking as you prepare this ‘Lemongrass Carrot Soup’. Put some relaxing music on and allow the aromatic nature of this meal calm the mind as you unwind. The vibrant orange of carrot and delicate cilantro greens will brighten up your evening meal.
If you tend to feel stressed out, irritable or experience skin inflammation (particularly in the summer months), you may have too much internal heat. This meal packs an anti-inflammatory punch that will pacify Pitta and cleanse overheated, toxic blood leaving you feeling cool, calm and collected.
Ingredients
4 whole CARROT
16 g CILANTRO
3 c COCONUT MILK
2 tbsp GHEE
1/2 inch GINGER (FRESH)
1 tbsp LEMONGRASS
1 tbsp MAPLE SYRUP
1 tsp TURMERIC
1 c VEGETABLE STOCK
Instructions
1. In a large pot, heat ghee on medium.
2. Add diced onion and gently fry for about 5 minutes or until translucent.
3. Remove tough outer skin of the lemongrass and pound with a rolling pin (to release essential oils).
4. Add to pot along with ginger, turmeric and chopped carrots and continue to sautee for 5-10 minutes.
5. Add coconut milk and vegetable stock and simmer for 20 minutes until carrots are tender.
6. Remove lemongrass, stir in maple syrup, and blend to a smooth consistency.
7. Garnish with chopped cilantro leaves.

Understanding Self-Acceptance: Benefits and Importance

“You will enrich your life immeasurably if you approach it with a sense of wonder and discovery, and always challenge yourself to try new things.”

Most people agree that accepting oneself is crucial to mental wellness. We’re all imperfect, so being harsh with ourselves about every shortcoming typically isn’t helpful or sustainable. Actually, studies have shown that persistent self-criticism can have a detrimental effect on welfare and self-esteem. While it can be a difficult concept to fully embrace for some, it’s a worthwhile pursuit because of the benefits it can bring.
Self-acceptance: what is it?
“A relatively objective sense or recognition of one’s abilities and achievements, together with acknowledgment and acceptance of one’s limitations,” is how the American Psychological Association (APA) defines self-acceptance. It’s about acknowledging that everyone has both good qualities, flaws, successes, and failures in life, and realizing that it’s unfair to hold ourselves to an impossible standard.
Self-esteem versus self-acceptance
It is important to understand that self-acceptance and self-esteem are not the same. Self-esteem is about positively judging yourself and your abilities, often in comparison to others. Contrarily, self-acceptance is the act of embracing who you are. While self-esteem is subject to swings depending on outside factors and life events, self-acceptance is more fundamental and stable throughout time.
What makes self-acceptance difficult?
Many of us find it difficult to accept who we are because society encourages us to assign values to everything from an early age, including ourselves. Many of us are raised in a culture that encourages continual comparison, which can lead to inflated expectations, self-criticism, and feelings of inferiority. Self-talk that is negative is very widespread, even in early childhood.
The benefits of self-acceptance: 
Again, self-acceptance can provide a more stable view of oneself compared to self-esteem, which is inherently comparison-based and can fluctuate. This could be the reason for the positive effects of self-acceptance on mental health that have been observed in research. One study found a correlation between “unconditional self-acceptance” and mood after exposure to negative events, and an inverse correlation with anxiety symptoms and narcissism.
Another study even found that self-acceptance decreased mortality risk by 19% and added three years of life, even when other factors were controlled for. A feeling of self-acceptance can help you achieve realistic goals, stabilize your relationships with others and yourself, manage mental illness, and generally feel better about yourself on a daily basis.

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