The Yoga Pantry

Monday Mudra 🫶
Dharmadhatu Mudra - Gesture of tranquility

Great for meditation 🧘‍♀️ 🙏

Dhyana, which means "meditation," is a steady stream of pure awareness
that we gradually come to recognize as our natural state of being.

Each of the limbs of Yoga plays an important role in preparing us for meditation.

- The Yamas and Niyamas, the ethical foundation, reduce inner and outer conflict.

- Asana cultivates a balance of steadiness and ease in our physical seat.

- Pranayama expands our life force energy, providing the vitality that allows us
to remain in meditation more easily.

- Pratyahara, drawing the senses inward reduces external distractions.

- Dharana cultivates one-pointed concentration
allowing the mind to become more calm and serene.

- Dhyana, meditation, is a
natural extension of Dharana in which all effort is released.

In meditation body, breath, senses and mind are integrated naturally into a single harmonious stream of awareness. A key to meditating with greater ease is the ability to welcome all that arises at all levels of our being without identifying so
completely.
By welcoming and witnessing, resistance is released, allowing us
to remain in meditation effortlessly.

Dharmadhatu refers to the "purified mind," free of conditioning. It is the essential nature of the mind that has been purified along the spiritual journey.

Dharmadhatu mudra is also called the Cosmic mudra and is commonly used in Zen Buddhist meditation.

This gesture allows breath, awareness and energy
to flow naturally along the entire front of the body, instilling a steady and calm
rhythm in the breath, which serves as a natural point of focus on which the mind can rest.

This mudra cultivates an experience of serenity, which supports the process of welcoming and witnessing. With greater serenity, we naturally
experience the inherent silence of our true being.

Joseph and Lilian Le Page - Mudras for healing and transformation

Monday Mudra 🤲 Hastaphula mudra - for cultivating Asteya - the Yama of non-stealing.

Asteya means "non-stealing," and refers to a natural balance of giving and receiving within all of our interactions and activities.

At the most basic level
Asteya involves fairness in our material exchanges. An activity as simple as
buying an article of clothing involves awareness of Asteya because goods produced in ways that violate fair exchange may carry a heavy karmic price
tag.

Asteya is also important within our personal relationships and in our
communities, and is practiced by cultivating balanced giving and receiving in relation to material goods, affection and energy.

Non-stealing also encompasses our ecological "footprint" on the planet, reminding us to use natural resources consciously in order to maintain global balance and harmony.

In the deepest sense, Asteya is the recognition of the value of the life we have received by using all of our talents and possibilities for our own good, for our families and communities and for awakening to our life's deeper meaning.

Hastaphula means "open hands," and Hastaphula mudra lengthens the inhalation and exhalation evenly, evoking a natural balance of giving and receiving in all of our activities.

This gesture directs the breath into the solar plexus, enhancing circulation to the digestive system. The enhanced breath in the solar plexus also creates a rhythmic movement of the diaphragm that supports the return of venous blood and lymphatic circulation.

At a subtle level, Hastaphula mudra enhances our sensitivity to the life force energy, experienced as a pulsation in the hands.

As we attune to our energetic being, we
re able to see beyond the limitations of the personality with its likes, dislikes and
perceived needs, supporting us in cultivating a balance of giving and receiving.

Joseph and Lilian Le Page - Mudras for healing and transformation