Did you know that your hands hold an innate healing power that has been used for centuries for healing various ailments?
Mudra is a Sanskrit word meaning a symbolic hand gesture that has the power of producing joy and happiness. Regular practice of mudras not only contributes to one’s overall good health but can be used as a preventive measure, as well. Our hands define our karma and our fingers are our power points. This makes them a link between individual Prana force and universal energy.
The position of our hands has the ability to influence the energy of our physical, emotional, and spiritual bodies. Mudras help to link the brain to the body, affect pain, change our mood, and increase our energy.
Though their effects can be substantial, mudras are simply rituals forming symbolic gestures. Mudras are also a form of yoga which is done while practicing pranayama and are a form of meditation which allows direct flow of energy into our body. Practicing yoga mudras mediates our mind and helps us to heal emotionally. Mudra uses techniques which stimulate the different parts of our brain promoting relaxation and calmness. Mudras are used to express and emphasize the intentions of our mind.
There are many types of mudras in yoga and each of them has different benefits. Over the next few weeks we will be covering several mudras highlighting their unique qualities and how to perform them.
The different forms of mudra yoga poses symbolize particular energies or qualities and each finger used in creating each mudras represents an element.
The thumb is Fire, pointer finger is Air, middle finger is Space, ring finger is Earth and the pinkie is Water.
Here are some of the performing steps and health benefits of yoga mudras and their meaning.
1. Chin Mudra Yoga – Gesture of Conscience
First, join the tip of the thumb and the forefinger to form a circle.
Leave the other fingers joined and extended outwards, with the middle finger remains unfolded on the forefinger.
This yoga mudra asana should be performed with both hands and the palms facing upwards.
Chin mudra should be done for a long time duration as compared to other mudras; approximately 10-15 minutes.
Chin Mudra Benefits:
This yoga mudra chin represents the union between us and the divine, and it:
increases our grasping power and sharpens our memory.
relieves insomnia and excessive sleep
and gives us relaxation from tensions and anger.
Gyan Mudra:
This same mudra, when performed with the palm facing downward, is known as Gyan Mudra (Gesture of Knowledge).