Chaturmukham Mudra: cultivate the ability to center yourself in contentment so you can embrace positive perspectives no matter what

Jun 9

You can stay centered in the truth of who you are, no matter what is happening around you.

Contentment is a state of being fully at peace with everything, just as it is. It is a stable and steadfast emotion that allows you to accept the light and the dark, knowing you can navigate it all.

Chaturmukham mudra helps you cultivate this steady emotion so you can live life with a positive outlook even if certain situations feel not so positive. This allows you to connect to your true being and always find a silver lining.

It is a wonderful handshape to work with anytime you want to shift into the energy of contentment, but especially during Gemini Season when the cosmos is calling you to appreciate polarities. It’s just like in the Disney movie, Inside Out, that teaches children (and grown-ups) about the value of the full spectrum of emotions. You can’t have the joy without knowing sadness. You can’t have calm without a little anger. You can’t have ease without first knowing fear.

The beautiful Sanskrit yoga word, santosha, means contentment. It refers to the ability to remain centered within the truth of who you are despite what is happening around you.

Cultivate santosha for yourself with this mudra and these tools to support its intention!

Check out ways to practice mudras live with our empowering yoga community on our live class schedule!

🫶🏻MUDRA: Chaturmukham Mudra

Benefits of Chaturmukham Mudra:

centeredness
calm
contentment
positive outlook
emotional balance and regulation
eases depression
supports the digestive system
digestion of nourishment and emotions
opens and lengthens the breath
balances all elements
connection to your root, sacral, solar plexus, heart, and throat chakras

Why practice Chaturmukham Mudra:

Through a connection from your root to your throat, Chaturmukham Mudra centers you in contentment so you can hold the light and the dark together. It balances your elements and steadies your emotions. It opens your breath and returns you to the truth of who you are. Meet any moment with a positive perspective with this mudra.

How to practice Chaturmukham Mudra:
Join the tip of each finger on your left hand to the tip of the corresponding finger on your right hand. Keep your thumbs extended straight up. Hold this in front of your body with elbows away from your body, your wrists separated slightly, and your fingers separated and slightly rounded as if holding a ball. Soften your shoulders and align your spine.

🧘🏻‍♀️MEDITATION: Whistling Meditation

WHY:
A mudra meditation to welcome contentment and lightness through the polarity of breath, the quiet inhale, and the expressive whistle of the exhale. A beautiful meditation for any time you want to feel the polarity of stillness and sound, and let a positive perspective rise through the joy of whistling.

PLACE:
Find any comfortable seat. Perhaps sit on the support of a folded blanket or bolster to get your hips a little higher than your knees.

MUDRA:
Find Chaturmukham mudra by joining the tip of each finger on your left hand to the tip of the corresponding finger on your right hand. Keep your thumbs extended straight up. Hold this in front of your body with elbows away from your body, your wrists separated slightly, and your fingers separated and slightly rounded as if holding a ball. Soften your shoulders and align your spine.

PRANAYAMA:
Breathe deeply in through your nose. Exhale fully through your lips with a long whistle sound. Give yourself full freedom to express and have fun with it. Feel the polarity of the quietness of the inhale and the expressiveness of the exhale.

DRISHTI:
As you settle into your breath, if it feels safe and comfortable, allow your eyelids to soften and close.

TO END:
With an exhale, release control of the breath and the mudra. Pause to reflect.