Mudras are most commonly positions of the hands and fingers, it means “seal”, “gesture” or “symbol”. They help with your body’s energy flow and can be seen used in traditional Indian dance, yoga and meditation.
Why Use Mudras?
Using mudras helps deepen the mind / body connection and can improve mood, focus or vitality. They can deepen your intention during meditation so, for example, finding a mudra that improves focus or builds confidence can assist your body and mind to create this reality.
The Five Elements
According to Ayurveda, everything is made up of the five elements and each element is associated with certain characteristics and body systems. Using certain hand gestures will connect different elements and aid flow of energy around the body.
FIRE – Thumb – Willpower, inner strength & energy – Digestive system & sight
AIR – Index Finger – Intellect, love & compassion – Touch, cardiovascular & immune systems
ETHER – Middle Finger – Communication & unity – Hearing, endocrine & nervous systems
EARTH – Ring Finger – Grounding, materiality & connection – Smell, spleen & large muscles
WATER – Pinky – Pleasure & adaptability – Reproductive, urinary & lymphatic systems
There are mudras that correspond with chakras and can help clear blockages in those chakra points, so if you are wanting to feel more grounded, for example, look up those associated with the root chakra. For more information on chakras, take a look at this article.
How do you perform mudras?
You can pretty much perform a mudra anywhere, seated, standing, walking, on the bus! However, to really engage with the connection, lie down or sit cross legged and meditate or practice deep relaxation. Keep the spine straight, shoulders relaxed and take slow deep breaths to allow energy (chi or prana) to flow freely around your body. Now adopt a mudra and commit to the position of the hands, giving enough pressure to any connections to feel them, but not so much that you turn your fingertips white.
Julie Rae 