Yoga Practice Name
Sambhavi Mudra
Yoga Practice Branch
Hatha Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga
Yoga Practice Type
Hatha Yoga Category
Mudra
Steps and Description
- Sit in any comfortable meditation asana. Keep the head and spine upright and straight, and place the hands on the knees in either chin or jnana mudra.
- Close the eyes and relax the whole body. Relax all the muscles of the face, including the forehead, the eyes, and behind the eyes.
- Slowly open the eyes and look ahead at a fixed point, keeping the head and the whole body still.
- Next, look upward and inward, focusing the eyes at the eyebrow center.
- The head should not move. When performed correctly the two curved eyebrows will form a V-shaped image at the root of the nose.
- This point is the location of the eyebrow center. If the V-formation cannot be seen, the eyes are not converging as they should.
- Hold the gaze for only a few seconds at first. Release at the slightest sensation of strain, close the eyes and relax them.
- Try to suspend the thought processes and meditate on the stillness in chidakasha, the dark space in front of the closed eyes.
Cautions and Limitations
- The eyes are very sensitive and consequently, the final position should not be held for too long.
- If the nerves are weak and there is any strain, retinal detachment can take place.
- Release the position if any strain is experienced.
Contraindications
- People suffering from glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy or those who have just had cataract surgery, lens implant or other eye operations, should not perform shambhavi without expert guidance.
General Benefits
- Physically, shambhavi mudra strengthens the eye muscles and releases accumulated tension in this area.
- Mentally, it calms the mind, removing emotional stress and anger.
- It develops concentration, mental stability and the state of thoughtlessness.
- Regular practice of shambhavi mudra retards degeneration of the pineal gland and is therefore recommended for children from the age of eight onwards to balance their emotional development.
Benefits for Disease
Depression
Body and Organ Affected
Eye