Maha mudra and Kriya Yoga

[Jitendra Hydonus]

Although perhaps difficult to make out the vernacular, see the illustrations. Mahamudra is one of the most excellent ways to keep the spine flexible for a lifetime. It is very difficult to enjoy meditation if there are back pains. This meditation exercise is included in the Kriya section of the SRF lessons. It is another practice that requires bringing energy up and down the spine simultaneously with the inhalation and exhalation of the breath.  More than the breath though there is energy movement taking place within the spine that is burning out karma. All the seeds of karma are stored in the astral spine.

[Jitendra Hydonus]

Maha mudra can give you a good indication of the condition of your back. With a little practice every day you will find your back getting more and more limber. Most older people complain of back pains. I do not have them. Practicing this most all my life has been very helpful in keeping the back limber and comfortable and sitting with spine straight.

The illustration above given in a video is the closest I have found to the practice that Paramahansa Yogananda recommends. Of course you can learn how to do it in the lessons provided by Yogananda’s students. I practice these techniques twice daily, three times each. And if I ever slack off I immediately notice that my back will not bend as pliably, so I get back into the routine of religiously practicing Maha Mudra.

[Jitendra Hydonus]

Without similar back exercises like the Salute to the Sun: do not plan on being able to meditate comfortably as you get older. That is why I practice maha mudras two times daily as suggested in the SRF lessons. This totals 18 mahatma mudras if we count every stretch of the lower and upper back towards the knees, to touch the legs and nester yet to hold the feet while bending. What ever works for the individual best.