How are you doing? Take a moment and listen to what arises for you today – honour the truth of how you are, in this moment, in this breath. I don’t want a patterned answer, or one you might think I want to hear, I want to know how you truly are in this moment – on all ends of the spectrum.
Last week I was guided to explore Anjali Mudra a little deeper by one of my own teachers, Barrie Risman. We’ve been exploring this practice in my community classes as well.
Anjali means “reverence” and refers to the honouring of the divinity within ourselves and all beings. When we come into Anjali mudra we are balancing all of our polarities – within and without. Joseph and Lilian Le Page remind us that this gesture directs breath, awareness and energy into the center of the chest, supporting us to turn inwards toward our authentic being and understanding on a subconscious level that we are all connected.
Anjali mudra calms the mind, reducing our stress and potentially lowering the blood pressure. This posture helps to release tension through the shoulder blades, and supports the health of your immune system.
As we consciously bring our action oriented hands to meet at our heart center, we honour the guidance found within. When we meet ourselves here, the answers often flow clearly through us – not always easy, but the answers we seek become clear. This reminder supports us in making decisions and traveling our path with compassion and integrity.
As my hands came together this morning, I was filled with a memory. Many moons ago I studied various massage and cancer trainings with Tracy Walton, she invited us to massage as if it was the last time the person you were working with was going to be touched – or perhaps the last time you were ever going to touch someone. She asked us to really show up and be present to not only our time massaging – but to our whole life experience – to live as if it was equally the first time and the last time you were here experiencing this moment. Arriving with curiosity and departing with reverence. The sacredness that ripples into our life experience with this perspective is beautiful. I extend this invitation to you, to be present in every moment; from exploring Anjali mudra as your hands make contact, to holding a hand, to sipping your tea, to yes, even doing the dishes.
Sometimes I think about how my life would be without these practices, and then I return to my mat.
Please join your hands in front of your heart with your palms facing together, fingers directed up towards the sky.
Press your finger pads, the base of your fingers, and the inner and outer edges of your hands gently together
Allow a slight openness at the center of your palms.
Fanning your fingers apart from one another – honouring the space around your heart.
The outer borders of your thumbs coming into contact with your sternum ( breastbone).
Relax your shoulders back and down, with your elbows held slightly away from the body and the spine naturally aligned.
Bring a slight nod to your head, and follow the gentle journey of your breath
I bring my hands together at my heart center, and I bow to you.
With much Love, Amber
xo
If you’d like to practice together, I offer live in person and online zoom classes, (which will be taking a break through the month of August and resuming in September) and as an additional support for you to practice on your own schedule, but together, I’ve created a video library and a monthly video subscription
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