The Energy Body
In the yogic texts there is reference to the Sukshma Shariram – Subtle body! According to a perspective yoga suggests that we have three bodies.
- Sthula Shariram – Gross body, available for perception of senses and measurable by gadgets
- Sukshma Shariram – Subtle Body, consisting of the Manas – Sorting, sense connected mind, Buddhi – Intellect, Chittha – Memories and impressions, Ahamkara – Self Image, The Prana, Not available for the senses and gadgets, but observable by oneself
- Karana Shariram – Causal Body – consisting of the Karma and Karma Phalam, not available for oneself or for others perception
The Sukshma Sariram is made of subtle prana, this flows through entrenched pathways called as NADIS! The sukshma sariram is having pranic network, which carries prana into the physical body and provides it for the mental functions too! Body depends on prana to connect with the mind, prana is like a bridge between the body and the mind.
It is through the medium of prana that each and every emotion, thought, idea, desire, is conveyed to the different parts of the body so that the emotions, thoughts, get a location for expression in the material plane. We have un countable number of unresolved thoughts, un realizable desires, conflicting emotions, mental debris, that disturbs the flow of prana in the subtle body. These blocked pranas, become impurities in the network of nadis.
The Yoga Rishis through their intense dedicated research, have clearly established the presence of the network of Nadis. They have also observed that these circuits through which prana flows can be brought into effective function by adopting certain mudras.
Mudra is like a switch. When an electric switch is engaged, it makes electricity to flow through a certain network of wires. In the same way, when a mudra is assumed, it creates a pranic circuit to come into force. The Mudra can be assumed using fingers of the hand (Hastha Mudras), can be involving the whole body (Kaya Mudras) or can be using the eyes (Jihva Mudras), tongue (Nayana Mudras) or even can be attitudes (Mano Mudras).
The Rishis have delved deep into their understanding of their subtle body, to the extant that they had could separate their sukshma shariram from their sthoola shariram at their will. It is known as ‘Para Kaya Pravesha’. They have developed a complete system of the science of Mudras through which one can train one’s sukshma shariram.
We at Satyananda Yoga Centre, introduce the discipline of Mudras gradually and in a systematic way from the beginners course and help our students to deepen their understanding of Mudras and integrate them to empower themselves.
Mudras have to be learnt and practiced in conjunction with other practices and with lifestyle attunements that will be complementing to the effect of the practices
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