In yoga philosophy, masculine energy is known as Shiva and feminine energy as Shakti. Masculine energy is symbolized by the sun, and feminine energy by the moon.
Ida, pingala and sushumna
These complementary energies flow through channels on either side of the body called nadis (the word means stream), through which prana, the life force, circulates. The feminine channel, ida nadi, governs the left side of the body. The masculine channel, pingala nadi, governs the right. One of the goals of yoga is to join and balance masculine and feminine energy: the two serpents that wrap around the central channel, sushumna nadi, and meet at the third eye, the sixth chakra, ajna.
Consciousness and energy
Shiva symbolizes consciousness, the masculine principle. Shiva is the paternal love of God that gives us consciousness, clarity and knowledge, and resides in the crown chakra, sahasrara.
Shakti symbolizes the feminine principle, the activating power and energy. It is the maternal principle: the provider, abundance. Shakti is the motherly love of God that surrounds us with warmth, caring and protection, and resides in the root chakra, muladhara.
When they unite in the crown chakra, knowledge, the knower and the object of knowledge become one. There is no Shiva without Shakti, and yoga is the realization of the unity of all things.
On the mat
To balance these two energies, and the root and crown chakras they reside in, we can practice balancing and grounding poses:
- Child’s pose with the third eye on the mat, gently rocking from the third eye to the crown
- Puppy pose, melting the heart toward the mat
- Plank, lifting the opposite arm and leg
- Grounding balances such as tree, eagle and Warrior III
- The warrior series (Warrior I and II), which come from Shiva mythology
- Inversions such as headstand and handstand, if they are part of your practice
Alternate-nostril breathing
Nadi shodhana, alternate-nostril breathing, is an uplifting and calming breathing practice that works in just a few minutes. It works directly with the right and left sides of the body and brain to cultivate harmony and mental clarity, and helps clear blocked energy streams in the body.
Off the mat
Off the mat, we can invite more love and laughter, ground ourselves in family and friendship, and take part in group-oriented karma yoga: volunteering for organizations working to create a better world and reaching out to those in need. In this way, both Shiva and Shakti can lead and nurture our community.
