The practice of yoga can be traced back thousands of years. While it does consist of breathing, mindfulness, and exercises, there is another lesser-known element that forms an integral portion that ties in all these several elements of yoga: completing the circuit so to speak. This element is called a Mudra.

A Mudra, meaning a seal, mark, or gesture in Sanskrit, refers to a series of hand gestures that are believed to directly harness the elemental energies in our body. The word “Yoga Mudra” comes from the Sanskrit terms ‘Muda’ which refers to bliss and ‘Dra’, which means dissolving, that which dissolves dualism and brings union between Yogi and the Divine is a mudra. Practicing yoga mudras harness the energy in our hands, coupling it with intention and conscious action to promote the flow of energy in the body.

What this does is help you channel your elemental energy, and performing these mudras helps to stimulate the flow of life force to quieten the mind and either transmit or intensify it with a simple touch of our fingers.

Eventually, during the course of your practice, an energy circuit comes into focus with the mudras acting as touchpoints to regulate and transmit the flow of elemental energy in your body.

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TYPES OF MUDRAS AND THEIR USES

Overview of popular Mudras Yoga mudras, in simple terms, bring stability to the holistic body-mind system and provide a safe and easy way to awaken, connect, and balance the five elements in our body. Essentially, our fingers act as electric circuits, as each finger represents a specific characteristic of each of these elements.

• The Thumb: Fire
• The Index Finger: Air
• The Middle Finger: Space
• The Ring Finger: Earth
• The Little finger: Water

Fire Mudra:

This mudra is characterized by indicative thumbs. The associated gesture is formed by joining the two thumbs facing up and interlacing or interlocking the other fingers around each other referred to as the Agni Mudra. This mudra is connected to your vitality and activates your purpose, passion, and drive.

Air Mudra:

This mudra is characterized by the use of the index finger and sealing it with the thumb. The associated gesture is formed by sealing the forefinger with the thumb and letting the palm face up in abandon. This is referred to as the Vayu Mudra. This mudra is connected to your breath and establishes and connects our inner thoughts with the outer world.

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Space Mudra:

The Akansha mudra immediately comes to mind with the use of the middle finger by sealing it with the thumb of each hand. Since space is said to encompass all elements, this mudra enables you to purify your mind and let your creativity flow through the words that you speak.

Earth Mudra:

The earth mudra, or the Prithvi Mudra, is formed by sealing the ring finger to the thumb with the palm facing downwards while resting your hands on your knees and stretching the other three fingers out like branches. This mudra that is centered around anchoring and grounding is indicative of enhancing health, healing, and vitality in any part of the body.

Water Mudra:

the Jal or Water Mudra focuses entirely on circulation. The fluid movement of feelings and forming gateways to control movement allows this mudra to move energy along the path of least resistance. The mudra is formed by touching the pinkie finger to the thumb and allows for the facilitation of emotional balance and cantering.

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While different mudras are formed with each of your fingers, some mudras are also formed by variations using the same set of fingers:

1. Chin Mudra: It is a hand gesture where the tips of the thumb and index finger touch to form a circle. It symbolizes the connection between individual consciousness and universal consciousness. The posture helps in increasing concentration and calming the mind.
2. Chinmaya Mudra: This mudra is performed by touching the tips of the thumb and little finger while keeping the other fingers straight. It helps in increasing focus and calming the mind.
3. Jiana Mudra: Jnana mudra is performed by touching the tip of the index finger to the tip of the thumb while keeping the other fingers straight. This mudra symbolizes the union of wisdom and action and is believed to increase concentration, wisdom, and knowledge. It is often used in meditation and yoga practices for mental clarity and inner peace.
4. Adi mudra: Adi mudra is performed by touching the tips of the thumb, index, and middle finger while keeping the other two fingers straight. It symbolizes the trinity of creation, preservation, and destruction and is believed to increase spiritual energy.

BENEFITS OF PRACTICING MUDRAS

Stimulation: Partially due to the attention paid to posture and relaxation, motor and sensory cortexes are ripe with stimulation during yoga. This stimulation leads to the activation of the parasympathetic nervous system, which promotes relaxation and stress reduction.

 Posture: An upright posture and intimate sensitivity and awareness help to improve breathing patterns and postural control. Mudra practices tend to affect slight changes in breathing rate, muscular activity, and belly movements and this indicates an intimate relationship with the body’s breath and mind.

Concentration and focus: Mudras practices help to train awareness of extremities and hence certain sensations during practice that helps to focus attention on underlying feelings and help to compartmentalize emotions and focus on pressing matters.

Epigenetic effect: Producing a relaxation response is not just a physical benefit, it also has a modifying effect on genetics when practiced alone or along with yoga and pranayama.

Incorporating Mudras into Daily Life:

Incorporating mudras into daily life can have numerous benefits and help promote overall wellness.

1. Start slow: Start with just a few mudras and practice them daily until they become second nature to you.
2. Practice with awareness: Focus on your breath and the sensation in your hands while practicing mudras.
3. Use correct posture: Ensure that you are sitting in a comfortable position with a straight spine and relaxed shoulders.
4. Pay attention to the duration: Each mudra should be held for a certain amount of time, ranging from 5-20 minutes.
5. Make it a daily routine: Incorporate mudras into your daily routine and make it a habit.

CONCLUSION

Although mainstream yoga practices like Pranayamas and Asanas have been more popular among practitioners, yoga mudras, as mentioned here, have a whole host of unique benefits that will give you a more balanced approach towards achieving stability at physical, mental, and spiritual levels. There are several training retreats and programs that show you how to incorporate yoga mudras as part of your routines and how to teach others.