Mudra: everything you should know about hand yoga

Discovering the mudra mani: the yoga of the hands that helps to convey energy and channel energy in the best possible way. Let’s find out the best known positions and what they are for.

When we talk about yoga we always think of the various positions of the body and rarely of those of the hands. However, these have a moderate importance in practice as they allow you to convey and transport energies, making certain brain areas more active. The mudra or yoga of the hands must therefore always be taken into consideration. Especially if the main purpose for which yoga is done is to relax and renew.

The meaning of mudra comes from the sanctum and translates into “sign” or “seal”. In other words, it indicates the gestures that are made with the hands and that change according to the positions that are assumed from time to time.

The mudra positions

Some of the mudras are so famous that they are almost a symbol of yoga. So let’s try to analyze the most famous.

– The Great Mudra . This is the position of the hands in which the index and thumb meet, as well as the most “seen” in yoga images. Of this position there are different variants called active or passive and all of them indicate in a different way the union between the human conscience and the divine. The circle that is created is therefore the symbol of the soul of the individual who joins the universal one.

– The anjali Mudra . It is the classic gesture of greeting with hands folded at chest height. It is usually done in the classic cross-legged position. Its effect is to center and calm and help you find yourself in perfect connection with yourself and with the universe.

– The Mudra of the lotus . This is a mudra which serves to open the heart to the rest of the world and which has a rejuvenating effect. It is practiced by bringing the palms of the hands together so that only thumbs and little fingers come into contact. In fact, the other fingers remain open and extended as a sign of opening.

– The Buddhi Mudra . This position can be more difficult than the others. It is done by trying to get the thumb to touch the little finger while the other fingers remain relaxed. It serves to give mental clarity.

– The Prana Mudra . Here the thumb, ring and little finger touch each other while the index and middle fingers point upwards. A position that serves to channel useful energy especially to the first chakra and which, consequently, infuses energy.

– The Hakini mudra . In this case, all the fingers that meet to form almost a triangle are touching each other. A position that serves to put the two cerebral hemispheres in contact and therefore to give concentration and creativity.

The benefits of hand yoga

As an integral part of yoga practice, mudras help to find oneself, to make yoga even more performing and to obtain various benefits. Their number varies according to the type of yoga practiced. Hatha yoga , for example, has a total of 25.

As for the benefits, these are different and can be summarized as follows:

– More calm
– Relaxation
– Greater concentration during practice
– Inner balance
– Self-knowledge

All benefits that increase with practice and with the improvement of the various positions.

Cover photo source: https://pixabay.com/it/photos/yoga-esigianato-fitness-donna-3053488/