How amazing to be able to give yourself an internal massage, a sonic massage that is. The vibrations of this practice help to awaken our chakras(the energy centres in our body), freeing up any energy blockages, leaving us feeling amazingly blissful!
I am loving this practice of the Bija mantras and have started incorporating it into some of my classes including my mummy and baby class!!
“The Bija mantras are one-syllable seed sounds that, when said aloud, activate the energy of the chakras in order to purify & balance the mind & body. When you speak the bija mantras, you resonate with the energy of the associated chakra, helping you focus upon your own instinctive awareness of your body & its needs.”-DailyOM
There are 11 energy channels (charkas) and each of the mantras (sounds) resonates with that area. In this technique we are going to connect with 4 of the major ones:
“RAM” – solar plexus – Identity & courage
“YAM” – heart – love & compassion
“HAM” – throat – communication & truth
“OM” – crown of the head – oneness & divine wisdom
Technique:
- Sitting in a position that feels comfortable, crossed legged can work well. Ensuring you are sitting nice and straight, on a block preferably in order to support the lower back and to lengthen the spine
- Beginning by bringing your awareness into your solar plexus/belly area. Placing your hand on your belly and breath deep into the belly, allowing the belly to expand with the inhalation and deflate with the exhale. Continue this for a few breaths. On the next exhale hum the mantra ‘RAM’, lengthening the mantra as much as possible. Repeat this humming 3 times.
- Moving your attention now to your heart centre and place your hands on your heart for a few moments. On the next exhalation, release your hands behind your back interlocking your fingers if possible and expand your chest, shoulder blades working in towards each other. On the next exhale hum the sound “YAM”, lengthening the mantra as much as possible. Repeat this humming 3 times.
- Release your hands back onto your knees and move your awareness now to your neck area. Exhale turn your head to the left, inhale back to centre, exhale turn your head to the right, inhale back to centre, exhale release the head down, inhale back to centre, exhale release the head behind, inhale back to centre. In a neutral position and on the next exhale hum the sound “ HAM” ”, lengthening the mantra as much as possible. Repeat this humming 3 times.
- On the next inhale reach your arms up and bring your hands into anjali mudra (hands are in prayer above our head) Bring our awareness now to the crown of the head. On the next exhale hum the sound “OM”, again lengthening the mantra as much as possible. Repeat this humming 3 times.
- Release your hands back on your knees, palms facing up and sit with your eyes closed, allowing the vibrations to resonate through the body.
Technique for Mummy & Baby:
Babies adore this!! It is incredible to watch how a baby may go from being hysterically upset to blissfully calm after a few moments of this practice!! It reminds them of their time in the womb when the vibrations of your breath was a comforting feeling. Toddlers and kids love it too, my 1 and a half year old thinks its hilarious!!
- Mummy sits in a position that feels comfortable, possibly in a tight crossed legged position or whichever position feels best. Ensuring you are sitting nice and straight, on a block preferably in order to support the lower back and to lengthen the spine. Baby can either be on his/her back or on their belly. This can also be done in Mummy’s arms when Mummy simply hums the sounds and not the movement.
- Beginning by bringing your awareness into your solar plexus/belly area. Placing your hand on your belly and breath deep into the belly, allowing the belly to expand with the inhalation and deflate with the exhale. Continue this for a few breaths. On the next exhale hinge forward with awareness over baby and placing your mouth on baby’s belly, humming the mantra ‘RAM’, lengthening the mantra as much as possible. Repeat this humming but very fast “RAM”, “RAM, “RAM”….. Inhale lift up and back to sitting.
- Moving our attention now to our heart centre and place your hands on your heart for a few moments. On the next exhalation, release your hands behind your back interlocking your fingers if possible and expand your chest, shoulder blades working in towards each other. Hold here for a couple of breaths. On the next exhale, release your hands and hinge forward again, placing mouth over baby’s heart, humming the sound “YAM”, lengthening the mantra as much as possible. Repeat this humming but very fast “YAM”, “YAM, “YAM”….. Inhale lift up and back to sitting.
- Release your hands back onto your knees and move your awareness now to your neck area. Exhale turn your head to the left, inhale back to centre, exhale turn your head to the right, inhale back to centre, exhale release the head down, inhale back to centre, exhale release the head behind, inhale back to centre. In a neutral position and on the next exhale hinge forward again, placing mouth at the side of baby’s neck, humming the sound “ HAM” ”, lengthening the mantra as much as possible. Repeat this humming but very fast “HAM”, “HAM, “HAM”….. Inhale lift up and back to sitting.
- On the next inhale reach your arms up and bring your hands into anjali mudra (hands are in prayer above our head) Bring our awareness now to the crown of the head. Staying here for a couple of breaths. On the next exhale release your hands and hinge forward again, placing mouth over baby’s head, humming the sound “OM”, lengthening the mantra as much as possible. Repeat this humming but very fast “OM”, “OM, “OM”….. Inhale lift up and back to sitting.
- Release your hands back on your knees, palms facing up and sit with your eyes closed, allowing the vibrations to resonate through you and your baby’s body.
Please give it a go and I would love to know how you get on!!
Enjoy
Namaste
