SHANMUKI MUDRA

SHANMUKI MUDRA  Shawn means six and mukha means the mouth. Sanmukha is the name of the six headed god of war, also known as Kartikeya. Mudra means a seal or closing up.

The posture is also called Parangmukhi Mudra (facing inwards), Sambhavi Mudra (Sambhu is a name of Siva, father of Kartikeya/kumara swamy/aayappa swamy. Hence, Sambhava is the progeny of Siva), also as YoniMudra. Yoni means the womb, the source. The mudra is so called because the aspirant looks within himself to find the very source of his being.

Technique:-

Sit in Padmasana. Keep the spine erect and the head level.

How to do: Adopt sidhasana pose with both ears closed with the thumbs,both eyes with the index fingers,both nostrils with the middle fingers,and the mouth with ring and small fingers.Inhale and retain the breath.Repeat om and concentrate on Ajna chakra(between the eye-brows).Perform mula bandha and feel that kundalini shakti is ascending the sushuma ans feel that kundalini shakti is ascending the sushumna,piercing the six chakras.Exhale and release the fingers.
This enables the yoga to enter deep into the heart,for the practice of profound meditation and japa.It awakens the sleeping kundalini and confers great powers to the body and mind.It bestows mental peace and serenity.

Effects:- 

The senses are turned inward and the rhythmic breathing calms the mind's wandering. This brings a feeling of inner peace and one hears the divine voice of his self within, 'look here! Look within! Not outside, for the source of all peace is within yourself.' The posture thus prepares the practitioner for the fifth stage of yoga, Pratyahara, where he attempts to free himself from the thralldom of the sense and to prevent them from running after their desires.

Some of the other asanas which also helps in Obsessive complsive disorder are Sirsasana; Sarvangasana; Paschimottanasana; Uttanasana; Bhastrika; Nadi Sodhana & Suryabhedana Pranayama without retention, Sanmukhi Mudra & Savasana.

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SAVASANA

This is an asana for relaxation of all muscles, nerves etc. It should be performed at the very end of your asana practice. This is an asana for relaxation of all muscles, nerves etc. It should be performed at the very end of your asana practice. (Mritasana is another name for this pose.)

Technique:- Spread a soft blanket. Lie flat on your back. Keep the hands on the ground by the sides of your body. Stretch the legs quite straight. Let the feet drop outwards. Close the eyes and breathe slowly. Relax all the muscles, nerves, organs, etc. Start the relaxation process from the toes. Then proceed to the calf-muscles, muscles of the back, chest, arm, forearm and hands, neck, face etc. See that the abdominal organs, heart, chest and brain are also relaxed. Relax the plexus of nerves also. Now repeat OM, OM, and OM. Think of Atman. Meditate gently with a feeling of purity. Do not sleep. Continue the meditation for 15 minutes. You will enjoy perfect peace, ease, comfort and relaxation. Every one of you should enjoy it. Words are imperfect; they cannot adequately describe the feeling.

Benefits of Savasana:- 

It is not just a nap with a fancy name, there is no sleeping in savasana (though many people do fall asleep, and that’s fine if your body is telling you that’s what it needs.) After a practice of yoga, our bodies need to relax. This pose helps us to physiologically relax each muscle, thus helping us to mentally and physically digest our practice.

It also helps to relieve stress, bring ourselves away from our day and onto our mat.

Now, everyone who has ever been in a yoga class lying in savasana listening to the teacher telling us to “remove yourself from your day” has immediately planned what they’re having for lunch, tomorrow’s to-do list and worked out how much change is in their purse.

If this happens, which is inevitable, don’t panic.

This is how our minds work, and that’s okay. In order to consolidate our practice and have a hard-earned rest, we don’t necessarily need a blank mind floating towards enlightenment. If you need this time to think, then think. It’s your time, your thoughts and your practice, and your savasana can be whatever you want it to be.

  

The Goal of Savasana:-

One main aim of savasana is to invigorate and refresh the mind and body through conscious relaxation.This is not easy!,In fact, many say it is the most challenging of all the poses. Of course you are not using your upper arm strength to hold you in a balance, and no you are not opening your hips to encourage a deeper stretch, but stilling your body and mind whilst remaining conscious does indeed require strength, balance and openness.It is very easy to assume savasana is unnecessary at the end of practice and avoid it altogether, but the benefits are endless.

Savasana relaxes the central nervous system, helping both body and mind to be calm. It also decreases muscle tension, encouraging the benefits from all the poses you have just done in your practice. Taking a brief pause from life in this pose is used as a way to invigorate and increase energy levels, so that after your practice you feel refreshed and more focused.