What Is Yoga Mudra? Discover the magic in your hands

There is a special importance of “Yoga Mudras” in the yogic system, apart from Ashtanga Yoga. Mudra is nothing but the developed or advanced version of asanas. Asana is the predominance of senses and subordination of prana (Lifeforce), but in mudra, there is a predominance of prana and subordination of senses. Yog Tatva Mudra Vigyan or the science of yoga mudra and pranayama is a different, subtler, and lesser-known branch of yoga. In this article, learn what is yoga mudra, its techniques, and its benefits.

What is Yoga Mudra?

The word ‘Mudra’ translates to the ‘gesture’ or ‘attitude’. The mudra may involve the whole body or could be a simple hand position. Entirely distinct and based on the principle of Ayurveda, yoga mudras are understood as a healing modality. This article talks about the Hasta mudras (Hand gestures) only.

How does Yoga Mudra work?

It is believed that the entire universe is made up of five elements popularly known as “Panchmahabhoota”. They are Fire, Water, Earth, Air, and Space. Our body is also a combination of these five elements, and any imbalance between these elements makes us fall sick. The perfect balance of the elements helps us stay healthy. Each finger represents a natural element. The thumb, Index finger, Middle finger, Ring finger, and Little finger represent Fire(Agni), Air(Vaayu), Space(Aakash), Earth(Prithvi), and Water(Jal) respectively. Yoga Mudras help in regulating the internal glands, organs, and their actions. Also, they bring the balance between the five elements.

Yoga Mudras start affecting our bodies immediately. If you do the mudra with your right hand, it starts affecting the left side of the body and vice versa. You can do mudras even while walking, standing, or sitting. But doing the mudras in Padmasana, Vajrasana or Sukhasana gives the maximum results. You can start any of the mudras for 10 minutes a day and gradually increase it to 35-40 minutes.

1. Dnyanamudra or Dhyanamudra:

Keep the other three fingers straight by joining the tips of the thumb and index finger together.

Benefits:

1. Helps in the development of perception and meditative state. Also helpful for increasing concentration and reducing negative thoughts.

2. This mudra helps in increasing memory power and hence students become intelligent with constant practice.

3. Strengthens the brain muscles. Helpful for headaches, insomnia, and hypertension.

Tip: For better results, practice Prana mudra after this yoga mudra.

2. Vaayu Mudra:

Touch the base of the thumb with the tip of the index finger and gently push the index finger with the thumb. Keep the remaining three fingers straight.

Benefits:

1. Its practice cures all types of respiratory diseases, rheumatism, arthritis, paralysis, sciatica, knee pain, gas, etc.
2. Helpful in back pain and neck pain.
3. Improves blood circulation.

3. Shoonya Mudra:

The middle finger represents the Space (Aakash) element. Place this finger on the root of the thumb and gently press it with the thumb. Keep the remaining fingers straight.

Benefits:

1. With the daily practice of at least 1 hour, diseases like ear discharge, ear pain, deafness, hearing loss, etc. are cured.
2. Bone strength increases and is also helpful in heart diseases.
3. Helps in strengthening gums.
4. Helpful in thyroid and other throat diseases.

Tip: Do not practice this yoga mudra while eating or walking. The stomach should be empty while practicing this.

4. Prithvi Mudra:

Join the tips of the ring finger and thumb keeping the remaining three fingers straight.

Benefits:

1. Helps in improving the metabolism. Hence the constant practice of this mudra helps in general weakness, obesity, and being underweight.
2. Also helpful in improving digestion.
3. Helps in curing vitamin deficiency.
4. The body becomes radiant and energetic.

5. Praana Mudra:

This mudra is formed by joining the tips of the little finger, ring finger, and thumb together. Keep the remaining two fingers straight.

Benefits:

1. This mudra awakens the latent power of Praana.
2. The body develops vitality, health, and energy.
3. This mudra removes eye defects.
4. Helps in improving immunity and relieves fatigue by imparting new energy to the body.
5. When you are fasting, practicing this mudra doesn’t let you feel hungry or thirsty.

6. Apaana Mudra:

This mudra is formed by joining the tips of the ring finger, middle finger, and thumb together. Keep the remaining two fingers straight.

Benefits:

1. Helps in detoxifying the body.
2. This mudra also helps with diseases like constipation, piles, diabetes, Urinary incontinence, kidney defects, etc.
3. This mudra is beneficial for stomach problems.

Tip: When you practice this Yoga Mudra, You may need to urinate more frequently as the body starts detoxifying the systems.

7. Apaana Vaayu Mudra:

This mudra is formed when you do Apaana Mudra and Vaayu Mudra simultaneously.

Benefits:

1. Improves health by eliminating heart and rheumatic diseases.
2. People with weak hearts should practice this mudra daily.
3. Doing this mudra immediately after the heart attack gives relief. (Remember, this is not the only treatment. You should consult a doctor immediately. In the meantime, you can do this mudra)
4. This Mudra helps with the gas problem in the stomach.
5. Beneficial mudra in headache, Asthma, and high BP.

8. Surya Mudra:

This mudra is formed by placing the ring finger at the base of the thumb and gently pressing it with the thumb. Keep the remaining fingers straight.

Benefits:

1. This mudra keeps the body balanced.
2. Extremely useful in weight loss.
3. Surya means the Sun, and the sun being the source of heat, this mudra increases heat in the body, which further improves digestion.
4. Helpful in diabetes and liver diseases.

Tip: This yoga mudra should not be practiced by weak people or underweight people. As it increases heat in the body, this mudra should be avoided during the hot season.

9. Varun Mudra:

This mudra is formed by joining the tips of the little finger and thumb.

Benefits:

1. Useful in reducing dryness in the body.
2. Makes skin soft and glowing.
3. Useful in treating skin diseases and blood diseases.
4. Helps in curing dehydration in the body.

10. Ling Mudra:

Intertwine the fingers of both hands and keep the right thumb straight pointing upwards.

Benefits:

1. This mudra increases heat in the body.
2. Helpful in diseases like Cold, Asthma, cough, sinus, paralysis, low BP, etc.

Tip: Consume water, fruits, fruit juices, ghee, and milk more when you start practicing this mudra. Do not practice this yoga mudra for a longer duration, as you may get dehydrated.

Conclusion:

Now we have understood that the imbalance between the five natural elements within the body causes different diseases. Each of the five elements serves a specific and important function in the body. Every finger represents a natural element. Making hand gestures is like making an electrical circuit, to adjust or modify the flow of energy, bringing balance to natural elements within the body. The internal energy is, in turn, balanced and redirected, affecting change in the sensory organs, glands, veins, and tendons. The fingertips of your hands are having a strong connection with your brain through neural activation. Each mudra acts as a bond in aligning the energy associated with the mudra. Hence, Yoga Mudra is truly an underrated power at our fingertips!!!

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