Gathering with friends and family for holidays and events gives us opportunities to connect with loved ones. Sometimes these conversations can be challenging- especially during busy and stressful times of the year. Have you ever experienced biting your tongue or wishing you had not said something? Have you ever had a hard time digesting a remark someone said to you?
Humnn!

The Tongue a multifunctional organ

In Ayurveda, the tongue (Jihva) is one of the organs of action. The tongue is the vehicle of the mind and also of the digestive tract which in turn communicates with different organs inside our body. In addition to assisting us in speech, the tongue plays an important role in our human physiology. It is the first entry into our digestive tract.  

As soon as food enters the mouth the taste buds signal the digestive tract that specific enzymes and juices are needed for digestion. The tongue communicates in a magical way, telling the body how to create energy. This is where digestion begins. At the same time, it also transmits taste signals to the brain.

The tongue is also connected to the mind- it is here where we experience life’s pleasures and displeasures. It stores memories of the taste of life, a taste of food, and taste of experiences. Have you ever had the feeling of a bad taste left in
your mouth?

We can draw pleasure from tasting, singing, and laughing, and pain from crying and purging. This is the season where we are interacting, eating and absorbing- the perfect time to explore the tongue and how it can help us create stronger connections with loved ones.

Tongues Talk

Words have the power and ability to heal, to hurt, and to harm. The power of words is actually something directly connected to the essence of the soul. The words we speak have to be digested by others, too. But sometimes we are not conscious of how we use our words. How many times do you need to hold your tongue?

The 5th Chakra – Energy and Vibration

According to Ayurveda, our words are energies in different states of vibration. If we stay conscious of the energy we contain, based on the emotions we feel, we can make deliberate choices that alter our frequency and create the realities we desire.

The vishuddhi chakra or 5th chakra in the throat is responsible for our communication to the outside world. The 5th chakra, is the place from where we speak our truth— called Satya in Sanskrit.

When we speak our truth and do this from a place of Ahimsa or non-harming, the physical action of speaking mindfully can translate into a new way of speaking and eventually living in our deepest truth and highest energy.

Speaking the truth creates ojas in the body, which correlate with vigor, bliss, vitality, and our health.  When we speak from a place of non-truth- expressing ourselves from a place of anger and upset with harmful words- we create ama.
These impurities and toxins flood our bodies with harmful hormones and burns off our ojas.

Learning to use our tongues in a way that creates truthful, non-harmful speech not only uplifts our personal health- it helps us create healthy conversations with families and loved ones.

Practical Tools to Uplevel Your Conversations

Communication Tools

• Listen attentively 
• Say something energetic and uplifting 
• Be kind and non-violent 
• Resist gossip 
• Surround yourself with positive words & uplifting people 
• Be loving and honest 
• Convey respect and gentleness 
• Practice forgiveness 
• Be Luminous

Tongue Yoga Practices

1. Tongue exercises- Move your tongue in circles, left and right. Stick it out, up and down.
2. Lion’s pose
3. Whistle
4. Chant mantras like the Saraswati Mantra (see below)
Shitali pranayama
5. Practice Ahimsa
6. Eat to satisfy all 6 tastes

The Saraswati Mantra

The goddess Saraswati is the goddess of wisdom. The Saraswati Nadi begins in the tongue and ends in the vocal cords. This Nadi is responsible for speech and communication.  One way to activate the Saraswati Nadi is to use the Saraswati Mantra– chanting it as part of an energetic practice.

Try adding this mantra to your practice:

Aum Aim Saraswatyai Namah

So just as we practice standing poses to feel grounded, or backbends to open our hearts, I invite you to exercise and nourish your tongue as a way to uplevel your connection with loved ones. Whistle, Chant, Stretch it!  Pull it, Clean it, nourish, respect and love it. And, behold the feeling of a clear and conscious channel of communication for it stores a wealth of information.

About the Yoga Health Coaching Blogger

Batool Merali – Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner, Certified Yoga Health Coach, Yoga Teacher, Author. She guides people to thrive in body, mind, and spirit; releasing the anxiety that is holding them back in reaching their highest potential and to experience the magic of life. Her Nourish Myself programs are all about taking better care of ‘Yourself’. The problem is; we run around taking care of everyone else which leaves us exhausted and depleted with no time for ourselves. Nourish Myself programs are designed to help you step by step turn this paradigm around. She works with clients all over the country via online counseling breaking through their health struggles to live their best life possible. Visit her website. Author of The Divinity Within Journal, to receive you free workbook. Check out her facebook page and instagram.

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