Step into the Shiva Samhita and a rich tapestry of tantric practices unfolds—techniques designed to awaken subtle energies and bridge the mundane with the divine. Central to its teaching are mudras (seals) and bandhas (energy locks):

• Mahāmudrā, a full-body gesture combining leg stretch, torso engagement, and breath retention, claimed to stoke the inner fire.
• Khecari Mudra, where the tongue gently presses against the soft palate, forging a channel for prāṇa to rise.
• Jālandhara, Uḍḍīyāna and Mūla Bandha—these three locks work in concert to corrall vital force, like tuning strings on a sitar.

Prāṇāyāma follows, with techniques such as Bhastrika (bellows breath) and alternate-nostril breathing, each fine-tuned to cleanse the nadīs (energy channels). Mantras—often seed syllables like “Śaṃ” or “Hūṃ”—are intoned to ignite chakra centers, while yantras (sacred diagrams) serve as visual aids for concentration.

A real showstopper is the focus on Kuṇḍalinī: gentle awakenings through spine-based exercises and subtle spinal locks. The text even maps a seven-step journey up the Suṣhuṁnā nāḍī, nudging practitioners toward samādhi.

Lest it feel overly ancient, today’s yoga studios and online platforms—especially since last year’s surge in home practice—are weaving these very methods into modern classes. Apps now offer guided sessions on Jālandhara Bandha or mantra chanting for heart chakra alignment.

It’s like discovering an old family recipe that’s suddenly trending on TikTok: centuries-old wisdom spruces up contemporary well-being. With Shiva Samhita’s tantric contours, energy work becomes more than postures—it’s a dynamic dance of breath, sound, and sacred geometry.