Have you ever thought about how easy it is for us to use our hands to communicate? Peace, reassurance, love (the hand over the heart). These common gestures have a much deeper meaning in the ancient science of yoga.
These gestures become mudras, which are seals that can direct energy, quiet the mind, and connect us to our own wisdom. Come join us as we expand on these moves and valuable hand gestures in the modalities we enjoy and perform together.
What is Mudra?
What is Mudra? The Sanskrit word “mudra” loosely translates to “seal,” “gesture,” or “mark.” However, mudra is much more than just a hand position. Think of your body like an energy circuit.
Mudras are specific styles of hand and finger arrangements. These positional approximations act like a circuit breaker in our bodies. They help direct the flow of prana, or life force energy, in each of us.
There are many nerve endings in our hands, each connecting to different areas of the brain and body. While there are other ways to communicate with our hands, we want to show mudras in a more subtle way. We will keep the same specific intention.
By using mudras and carefully placing our hands, we can change our physical, mental, and energy states.
They become a silent language, a meaningful dialogue between your individual consciousness and the infinite universal consciousness. Consider them keys, the keys to opening hidden potentials and manifesting your desires.
Types of Mudras
While mudras are often thought of as just hand gestures, the reality is that they are a vast and complicated system! To envision it, mudras as a type extend beyond what our hands can do.
We have Hasta Mudras that include hand gestures and are the ones most commonly practiced in yoga and meditation.
Then we have Mana Mudras, or head Mudras, which are gestures by the eyes, ears, nose, and tongue and are mainly for sensory withdrawal practices.
After that we have Kaya Mudras that include specific posture with breath and concentration.
Then Bandha Mudras that channel energy through energetic locks.
Finally, we have Adhara Mudras, which are perineal gestures often found in deeper practices.
Each type of Mudra has its purpose in directing energy to create effects for benefits.
Benefits of Mudra
The Depth of the Reward:
The Benefits of Mudra are truly holistic and touch on every level of our being. When taking a look on a physical level, mudra makes good sense as a practice that can improve circulation, assist in detoxifying the body, and additionally make your digestive system work better with continuous and regular mudra practice.
Many individuals have found relief from stress-related head pain and better quality sleep. Spiritually and emotionally, mudras are highly soothing and have the power to greatly lessen anxiety and depression, create a larger awareness of inner peace, and improve focus, concentration, and memory significantly.
Energetically, they are unparalleled in balance and harmony. Mudras help balance the five elements within us, activate and purify the chakras of our mind and body, and enhance our meditative states, eventually leading to a higher spiritual awakening and providing an overall higher state of consciousness. It is a path towards inner harmony.
Meaning of Hand Mudras Chart
Let’s explore the extraordinary language of your hands! Each one of your fingers has its own individual energetic signature connected to one of the five great elements (Pancha Mahabhutas).
This post helps us understand the meaning of the hand mudras chart and why certain mudras have particular energetic effects.
Thumb: Fire (Agni)—Associated with willpower, logic, and the ego.
Index Finger: Air (Vayu)—Associated with intellect, wisdom, and thought.
Middle Finger: Ether/Space (Akash)—Associated with patience, stability, and discernment.
Ring Finger: Earth (Prithvi)—Associated with vitality, strength, and grounding.
Little Finger: Water (Jal)—Associated with communication, intuition, and emotions.
When you align certain fingers at a relatively “centered” point, you are basically creating a “seal” that channels the flow of energy associated with those elements. It is a bit like tuning a radio station inside yourself!
Mudras 311:
Fan the Eternal Flame
At our school in Rishikesh, we get so excited about how specific combinations of mudras can create major shifts.
We want to explore a concept we often share that we call Mudras 311. Although Mudras 311 is not one named Mudra, we use the numbers “311” as a symbolic sequence to fire up your internal flame and evoke your vital energy.
We think of the “3” as activating the three main nadis (energy channels)—Ida, Pingala, and Sushumna—and we are ultimately aiming for a balance of these energies, and the “11” stands for mastery and awakening.
To garner energy with this exciting sequence, we recommend the following:
Begin with Gyan Mudra (thumb and index finger touching, palms facing up) for 1 minute, focusing on clarity of thought.
Move into Vayu Mudra (index finger at the base of the thumb) for 1 minute, balancing the air element to quiet the restlessness.
Finish with Prana Mudra (thumb touching the tips of the ring and little fingers) for 1 minute to amplify overall vitality.
After the three, you simply sit in silence for 1 minute, observing the energy that has been activated.
This very simple three-gesture, one-minute sequence, which we call “Mudras 311,” is an excellent way to be free from lethargy. and sparking your inner energy.
Mudras 309:
Grounding and Serenity
Mudras can be used to ground us in deep peace in the same way that we may refresh our bodies. Let’s have a look at Mudras 309, another unique sequence that might help you feel more stable and calm. The “3” might refer to grounding the body, mind, and spirit, whereas the “09” represents completion and deep understanding. It is about centering oneself and connecting to the Earth.
To find this peaceful sequence:
Start with Prithvi Mudra (thumb touches ring finger tip) for 3 minutes to help you activate and connect deeper to the earth element.
Then shift to Apana Mudra (thumb touches middle and outer fingertips) for 3 minutes to assist in detoxification and letting go of negativity.
Finally, settle in Varun Mudra (thumb touches small fingertip) for 3 minutes as it balances the element of water and improves clarity of communication.
Please hold each mudra for 3 minutes. The Mudras 309 sequence can be held for a total of 9 minutes and is perfect when you mostly feel scattered or are just trying to find a deeper sense of peace and emotional balance.
Yoni Mudra
Embracing the Sacred Feminine:
It is one of the powerful Mudras in yoga and involves the sacred feminine energy and an inner space.
“Yoni” means “womb” or “source,” and the mudra represents creation, intuition, and the full withdrawal of senses that signifies deep introspective self-care.
To do Yoni Mudra: Bring your thumbs together and your index fingers together to create a diamond shape with your hands, while the rest of your fingers tuck in or stay relaxed. Rest your hands gently in your lap. As you practice it, think of the space within you as a sacred, protected, peaceful space akin to a womb.
This mudra is calming for our nervous system, greatly improves meditation by turning our awareness inwards (pratyahara), and helps to balance hormones. It is a lovely self-care practice and an inward connection to your deepest, most intuitive self.
Mudras and Mantra
The Synergistic Power:
Consider how the silent power of gesture combines and blends with the intensely felt vibration of sound. This is the brilliance of combining mudras with mantras.
When you practice a mudra and chant a mantra simultaneously, you create a magnificent synergy by enhancing the effects of each separately.
The mudra directs the prana to specific energy centers. While the vibrational sound of the mantra stimulates the energy centers located in the body. Amplifying the available energy and resulting in a deeper experience.
As an example, when you hold Gyan Mudra while softly chanting the universal sound of “Om,”. You can greatly amplify your concentration and meditative experience.
Or when focusing on inner purity and abundance, holding Lotus Mudra (palms together, thumbs and little fingers touching. Other fingers raised like a lotus) should be done while also expressing the simple Lakshmi Mantra.
Integrating Mudras into Your Daily Life
Now, we hope that you got your answer for what Mudra is. As the beauty of mudras is their simplicity and accessibility!
Don’t need a yoga mat or any particular equipment. You can use them seamlessly in your day-to-day life.
You can practice a very calming mudra like Gyan Mudra in the morning while in meditation. Or you can use Apana Mudra for a few minutes while commuting just to release some stress.
If you are feeling stressed, bored, or overwhelmed during the day. Just pause and practice Vayu Mudra to calm that restless mind.
And you can do Mrigi Mudra before sleep (you can use your thumb, ring finger. And little finger on one side for alternate nostril breathing) to help relax.
Remember, practicing consistently is going to be much more important than how long you practice. Even short durations of regular practice can have amazing effects.
If you feel a calling to deepen your understanding and practice. We invite you to come and participate in these practices, in person, with us here in Rishikesh.
You can check out our upcoming yoga retreats and workshops or participate in our comprehensive teacher training programs. We would love to share the incredible wisdom of yoga with you.
