Mudra in Sanskrit means using the fingers to make specific gesture of the hand. According to Ayurvedic school of medicine, the human body is made up of five natural elements (fire, air, space, earth, and water), which are represented by our five fingers. The body is said to be in a state of well-being if all five elements are balanced. Any imbalance in any one of these elements may have a negative effect on both the mental and physical well-being. In this blog you will get to know about harnessing the transformative power of mudras for your all round improvement.

The human body is the product of the five natural elements or pancha bhuthas. The Earth forms solid structures such as teeth, nails, bones, muscles, skin, tissues, and hair. These give structure and strength to the body. Water forms saliva, urine, semen, blood, and sweat. Fire forms hunger, thirst, sleep, the vision in the eyes and complexion of the skin. Air is responsible for all movement including expansion, contraction, vibration, and suppression. Space is the most subtle of all elements and is present in the hollow cavities of the body in the form of radio frequencies, light radiation, cosmic rays, etc.

When we do a mudra, the life energy flows and helps bring about balance in the elements. This can have a significant effect on how your body and mind feels. There are many mudras which have their own specific benefits. Here i have listed out a few that you can use in your practice.

Gyana Mudra

It is a yoga hand gesture that is performed to concentrate the mind during meditation. Gyana mudra & Meditation thus go hand-in-hand. This mudra of knowledge emphasizes that knowledge comes when the mind is steady and focused. Gyana mudra, also known as Chin mudra, is a powerful mudra that has been practiced for hundreds and thousands of years by yogis and sadhus to achieve peace, tranquillity, spiritual component, and other health benefits. It is the most practised yoga mudra among all.

Your index finger should touch the tips of your thumbs gently while the other fingers are kept straight. Remember to keep your hands and arms relaxed while doing this mudra.

Surya Mudra

Surya mudra is a practical hand gesture for weight loss by increasing the fire element in the body. The fire element is known to improve digestion by boosting the metabolism in the body. Regular practice can significantly aid in fat loss, reduce bad cholesterol, improve vision and so on.

In order to perform this mudra, sit in any comfortable posture. You need to fold the ring finger in such a way that the tip of the ring finger touches the base of the thumb. Cover the ring finger with the thumb and gently press the middle half of the ring finger with the thumb. Though this mudra can be practiced at any time in the day, the ideal time to practice is during sunrise ,i.e, 4AM – 6AM as you can tap into the sun’s energy.

Prana Mudra

Prana mudra is a sacred hand gesture that helps channel the flow of vital life force energy known as Prana during meditation or yoga practice. This mudra is specifically used to balance the elements of earth, water, and fire within the physical body. It excites the root chakra which eventually awakens and energizes the body. With an awakened body, you feel the life in all the organs. This mudra provides several benefits to the physical and mental health.

In order to practice this mudra, practitioner should sit in any comfortable posture with a relaxed mind. The tips of your thumb, ring finger and little finger are joined together keeping the remaining fingers straight, firm and relaxed. When we perform any set of treatment mudras like the surya mudra we will need to perform prana mudra in the end. This energizes all the mudras that we have performed earlier.

Samana Mudra

Samana mudra, also known as Mukula mudra, is one of the best mudras for balancing the five elements within the body. When you bring the fingers together in samana mudra, all elements are given equal importance.and the energy generated if directed to a specific part, you feel instantaneously revitalized. Hence it is beneficial as an effective healing tool.

Bring your little, ring, index and middle finger together and bend it over to touch your thumb. All the fingers should be touching the thumb. You can perform this mudra at the end after performing the prana mudra so as to balance all the five elements.

Dyana Mudra

As the name suggests, Dhyana mudra is the mudra of meditation. This mudra is believed to promote a calm and focused state of mind, enhance concentration and deepen your meditation practice. This mudra helps to deal with negative emotions such as stress, depression, anger, anxiety.

You need to perform this mudra by resting the right hand on top of the left, palms facing up and the thumbs slightly lifted so that the tips touch one another.

In the world of yoga, it is believed that mudras offer their maximum benefits when performed during the Brahma muhurta which is from 4 AM to 6 AM. Practicing each of the gestures for a minimum of 15-20 minutes makes it effective. One needs regular practice to see the results.

It is important to note that this is a complementary therapy that works best in conjunction with other healthy lifestyle strategies. Doing regular yoga with a good yoga guide or teacher, using the correct techniques, regularly performing pranayama and meditation are important to get the most out of yoga mudras.

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