If we consider the world we live in and the pace of life we go through each day is no wonder we constantly suffer from aches and pains in both our bodies and mind.
Aside from traditional medicine, pills, painkillers, or similar medications, people very often rely on yoga, meditation, or acupuncture. These are all fine and useful methods but there’s another more simple method that many Westerners haven’t even heard of.
We’re talking about Hand Mudra – Hand Gestures, a method that originates from India. The method stimulates various parts of the body and mind while relieving different kinds of pain and ache.
The method consists of ten basic hand gestures or mudras.
Perhaps you’re a skeptic now, but once you see how powerful the gestures are you’ll use them regularly.
Prana mudra is one of the most prominent Yoga mudras that can be very beneficial for everyone practicing it.
Prana means life in Hindi and it is one of the five energies needed for the balance in life. Prana is believed to be the most significant energy ( the varista or superior prana) and when you practice it, you can activate and recharge the needed energy in your life. It is a simple sacred hand gesture that helps with the energy flow in our bodies.
This Mudra involves 3 fingers:
It clearly links these three elements. When they are joined, they are in a balanced state and remove the imbalance in our body called Vata Dosha
When you practice prana mudra, you should sit in a comfortable position and relax your mind, so doing some meditation may help you. Prana Mudra is best to be practiced in the morning or 1 hour after having a meal.
Join the three fingers with mild pressure while keeping the other two fingers relaxed, straight and firm. You should practice with both hands and keep them over your knees. While practicing, be careful about the breathing pattern and stay in the same position without moving.
You can couple it with some relaxing music or chants like Om Namaha Shivaya Chant, Rama Chant, Om chant, or chants that you prefer.
According to some antient Hindi scriptures, our body has some disease when our energy or prana level is low. This practice can increase the energy level, and the body automatically heals itself, and it will boost your immune system.
Moreover, regular practice will heal all the ailments you might have and include:
If you practice it together with pranayama, you should wear loose-fitting clothes and be careful not to strain your lings.
Do not practice it if you have back problems or you are a breastfeeding mother.
If you practice it for a longer session than recommended, you can gain weight.
Vayu Mudra is the third most important form of the five forms of life energy called Prana and in Sanskrit means Wind, it is the air element and it can help you with various psychological problems, sciatica, rheumatic arthritis, etc…
It is also called a Mudra for stomach gas because it is very useful for relieving gas from the stomach.
This Mudra focused on two fingers: index and thumb finger, but all fingers are actually moved.
So, here are the steps needed for practicing it:
You can practice this Mudra in 3 sessions of 15 minutes each when you have it practiced. In the beginning, you can start with 10 minutes per day and extend it to 45 minutes at a time. For having some benefits from it, you should practice it for 2 months.
It is recommended to be practiced early in the morning on an empty stomach, but this is not very strict as you can practice it at any time of the day. The best position for practicing is sitting and this will help you to focus on your hands and to reap all the benefits from it as follows:
This Mudra is very beneficial, and there are no known side effects from its practice. However, if you notice any side effects, it is recommended that you consult an expert.
You can refrain from practicing in case you:
This Mudra is a sacred seal and hand gesture that can be used when you are under stress or in challenging times to bring peace, safety, bravery, and divine protection.
If we translate its name from Sanskrit, it means ‘fearlessness’. The Hindu god Nataraja is usually depicted with his second right hand in this Mudra, giving divine protection and protecting all people who follow the righteous path of dharma from evil and ignorance.
It is believed that Buddha used this Mudra when he reached enlightenment, and it is linked to Gautama Buddha.
It is used as a gesture of good intentions and friendship when approaching strangers, and it is mostly used only with the right hand, showing that you are without a weapon.
This Mudra can be used in different poses, such as
When the left hand is used, it is related to Buddha when he ended a conflict between two families that we’re arguing about the irrigation of their land. So, when the left hand is raised, it means forbidding family relatives to fight.
When both hands are raised, this Mudra is called calming the ocean and refers to an event when Buddha stopped a flood in one village, which attracted many worshippers and followers.
One of the most famous Buddha images in Abhaya mudra is the standing image in the principal viharn of the Wat Chedi Luang in Chiang Mai.
There are some really admiring examples of “calming the ocean” Mudra, 20 meters tall standing Buddha at Khao Takiab hill in Hua Hin.
4. Dhyana Mudra For Profound Meditation
This Mudra is a hand gesture, and it is most commonly used during meditation to give you profound concertation.
In yoga, meditation is considered to be the most important and this requires deep concentration. The mind must be released from all distracting thoughts, and it is best to focus the mind and look at the midpoint of the eyebrow.
Sanskrit for “meditation, this mudra is the seventh Patanjali’s eight limbs of yoga.
Moreover, “Eclipse or Mind” stands for Dh and Yana, which stands for moving or going, so as the name suggests, it can completely cleanse the mind and lead you to positive thoughts.
The other term for this Mudra is Samadhi mudra and it is used in the representation of Śākyamuni Buddha and Amitābha Buddha.
You can practice this Mudra for 10 minutes in 3 sessions daily or in one session of 35 minutes.
This Mudra is very good for students as it can improve their memory and you can practice regularly for 2 months.
This Mudra doesn’t have any side effects. But ensure that your thumbs do not put any pressure, which can lead to instability and restlessness.
Apana is the second most important of the five forms of Prana (life forces) in yoga and it is a Sanskrit word for wind. This mudra combines 2 mudras:
And joins 3 elements:
The other term for Apana mudra is purification mudra and it is primarily used for purification and detoxication of the body. According to Ayurveda, the waste and the toxins accumulated in the body create an imbalance physically and mentally, so you can practice this Mudra to release all the accumulated toxins from the body.
It is an hasta mudra, which means it is done with the hands, and when this Mudra is practiced, the pelvic and abdominal areas responsible for the digestion are active, so functions of the digestive organs are improved and it is called a digestion mudra.
It controls the organs between the navel and perineum like the colon, the urinary system, reproductive system, and intestines.
It can be practiced for six to eight weeks to reap all the benefits from it, such as:
This Mudra combines movement and sound and is a combination of two mudras:
1. Manas mudra (involves head movements)
2. Hasta mudra ( involves hands and fingers movements)
In Sanskrit, Brahma is the creator of the universe. The other name for this Mudra is Poorna mudra and with a meaning of a full breath.
The Hindu God Brahma had four heads, and they represent all-seeing, so when an individual practices this Mudra he moves the head in all directions while producing sounds which combined together make the sound of the universe, OM.
When practiced at a lower level, it will give you positive energy, while on a higher level, it is a path to universal knowledge to gain the supreme spirit, and in Sanskrit, the name Brahma means a supreme spirit.
The first step is taking a comfortable position and placing your hands on your knees with palms facing upwards.
The first component – the hand gesture
This Mudra is great if you suffer from migraines, headaches, sinus pain, or regular eye strain.
It is also very beneficial for:
8. Linga Mudra For Lack Of Passion
This Mudra can help you to bring passion to your life and build the element of fire and increases your energy. It is called upright Mudra, and it looks like an erected phallus.
Linga Mudra in Sanskrit means hand gesture and represents the Supreme God Shiva, and it is associated with the male phallus and it is a symbol of masculinity.
When you keep your hands to make this Mudra, it can be very beneficial for your body physically and mentally.
If you have a cold or flu, you feel very energetic, and it is very beneficial for cough problems, cold or runny nose.
This Mudra can be done anytime and everywhere in just a few easy steps;
Note: You can avoid practicing it if you have menopause, thyroid disorders, ulcer, hypertension, migraine, or a recent stroke.
This hand mudra is very beneficial for the respiratory system, thyroid, and speech problems. It is also called a laughter mudra and
This Mudra brings 4 elements together:
It is very easy to practice, and it can be done at any time of the day.
You can practice this Mudra every day for a healthy throat, respiratory system, and relaxation.
This Mudra emulates the female reproductive system, and it is called a Shakti Mudra as it is related to the Hindu goddess Shakti. Every woman has endless possibilities as her womb gives life but also gives freedom, transformation, and expression. It is the best Mudra to strengthen the Sacral Chakra, which is important for reproductive organs and the feeling of creativity, feminism, creation, and growth.
This Mudra is for a woman who:
Sit in a mediative position and keep the spine erect
When you practice it, you must lead a healthy lifestyle, and like any other yoga, posture is best to practice early in the morning.
Do not practice it if you are stressed or have a cold, or had some hand injury recently.
