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Sometimes there’s an elephant in the room at yoga. Literally.
In many studios, there is a statue of Ganesha (or Ganesh), the Hindu deity with a human body and an elephant head. He has huge, flappy ears, a long trunk and one tusk. He sits with his left foot tucked under his right thigh, and has four arms, with a different item in each hand.
Ganesha is known for being the remover of obstacles, having a generous spirit and for his love of eating, especially sweets, which results in a big, round belly. He is also called upon for success before the beginning of any new venture.
With the Hindu holiday of Diwali upon us, the iconic images of Ganesha and other deities have danced across my screen lately. Hindus celebrate this “festival of lights” from mid-October through mid-November. There’s a celebration at the Pikes Peak Center on Saturday, if you’re so inclined.
The mythology of Hindu gods can be found interweaved through many a yoga class. I’ve always liked the idea of Ganesha, this benevolent elephant-headed creature who helps you find ways around obstacles and is a boon to your greater happiness. I also like that he has soft spots, like a sweet tooth, and that his “ride,” or steed, is a mouse.
Here are a few ways to bring the spirit of Ganesha into your practice.
• Ganesha mudra. Mudras are hand and finger placements that can affect the energetic flow in your body. They’re like little yoga postures for your hands. Ganesha mudra can be used whenever you are struggling. It symbolizes strength when facing troubles and helps ease tension.
Hold your left hand in front of your chest with the palm facing outward. Bend the fingers. Now grasp the left hand with the right hand, which has its palm facing inward. Curl the fingers around each other. Move the hands to the level of the heart, right in front of the chest. As you exhale, vigorously pull the hands apart without releasing the grip. This will tense the muscles of the upper arms and chest area. As you inhale, let go of all the tension. Repeat six times, then keeping the hand grip as it is, place both hands on the sternum in this position. Hold here and observe how you feel. Then change the hand position: your right palm now faces outward. Repeat six times in this position, then bring the hands to the sternum and hold. Finally, bring both hands to your lap and rest. Practice this once a day.
• Ganesha mantra. It is believed that by chanting, or repeating, mantras, we create vibrations that move energy around and broadcast our intentions outward.
The Sanskrit mantra of Ganesha is dedicated to removing obstacles: Om Gum Ganapatayei Namaha.
Pronounce it: “Om Gum Gah-nah-pah-tah-yay Naw-ma-haw.” It means “I offer my love and devotion to Sri Ganesha. Please grant me success in my noble endeavor.”
Begin slowly and speed up as you repeat it 108 times, the same number of beads on a mala necklace. A mala was traditionally used to keep track of repetitions during chanting.
• Inversions. What better way to remove obstacles by looking at them in a different way? In my mind, that means going upside down for a whole new view. There are the challenging inversions, such as handstand and headstand. You can use a wall for comfort and safety. If those aren’t accessible, you can do downward facing dog or prasarita padottanasana, a wide-legged forward bend.
Diwali celebration:
“Vivaah - An Indian Wedding Musical” — 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011, Pikes Peak Center, 190 S. Cascade Ave., $17-$52; pikespeakcenter.com or 520-7469.
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Contact Jennifer Mulson: 636-0277, Twitter @jennifermulson,
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