Mudras for Calm: No Mat Needed — How Simple Hand Gestures Can Ground You with Swami Saradananda
In this warm and insightful conversation, Katja Patel speaks with Swami Saradananda — a seasoned yoga teacher and author — about her remarkable journey into yoga, what it truly means to walk the path of a swami, and the often-overlooked power of mudras. Together, they explore how these subtle hand gestures can help ground us, calm scattered thoughts, and bring more ease into our busy lives. The discussion highlights how accessible yoga truly is, with practices like mudras offering simple ways to support well-being, no matter your time, space, or physical condition.
Keywords:
yoga, mudras, Swami Saradananda, meditation, wellness, Ayurveda, grounding, mindfulness, personal growth, holistic health
Takeaways:
Swami Saradananda has over 50 years of experience teaching yoga.
Mudras are subtle hand gestures that can enhance meditation and grounding.
Practising mudras can be done anywhere, even in stressful situations.
Hand flexibility is crucial for effectively practising mudras.
Mudras help anchor attention and restore calm during busy days.
Understanding prana is essential to how mudras work.
Mudras can be integrated into asanas and pranayama.
Everyone can practice mudras, regardless of their physical condition.
The ripple effect of personal practice can positively impact others.
Mudras do not require much time or space to practice.
Sound bites:
"No yoga mat needed."
"Mudras encourage deep listening."
"There's always something you can do."
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Swami Saradananda and Her Journey
04:08 The Path to Yoga: Overcoming Adversity
05:34 Understanding the Role of a Swami
13:28 Exploring Mudras: The Power of Hand Gestures
21:59 The Science Behind Mudras and Energy Flow
23:41 Understanding Meridians and Nadis
26:18 The Importance of Hand Flexibility
27:45 Daily Hand Exercises for Flexibility
30:27 Mudras for Instant Calm
32:29 Integrating Mudras into Meditation
35:08 Enhancing Listening Skills with Mudras
36:46 Mudras in Yoga Practice
41:04 The Power of Action in Difficult Times
43:17 Resources and Learning Opportunities
How to get in touch with Swami Saradananda
Here next Satsang will be
13 July, Sun, 6:30-7:30pm: Guru-purnima - Book your space on Swamiji’s website
On the full-moon night dedicated to the teacher, join Swami Saradananda and friends in a discussion and meditation. We will look at archetypical teachers of yoga and inquire into the benefits of having a teacher.
The next 5-week online “Mudras for Modern Life” course starts on 25 Sept. There will be an early-bird booking discount available to those who register and pay before July 31st. Full details: https://yogamentor.yoga/mudras
In September, a 10-week online Chakra Teachers’ Training for yoga teachers will also begin, with an early-bird booking available for participants who register and pay a non-refundable deposit before July 31st.
Full details: https://yogamentor.yoga/chakra
Swami Saradananda’s website: https://yogamentor.yoga
Instagram: @yoga_mentor
Substack page: https://swamisaradananda.substack.com/
📖 Prefer to read this episode as blog post instead?
You can read the full blog post here.
