Mudras

During the last few months, I started practicing mudra gestures. I will say that I am new at this and have had to do some research to find out some of the information I share here. What I can say with certainty is that there is a definite change in my nervous system, a quieting of the mind and an easing of my days.

Our hands possess some of the highest concentration of nerve endings and the fine motor control centers in the entire body. By touching and forming specific fingertip gestures (which Gertrud Hirschi in her book “Mudras – Yoga in your hands” refers to as hand yoga), we engage important regions of the brain’s sensory cortex. By using our hands and fingers in mudras, we are able to interrupt the stress signals in the central nervous system. Hand mudras help balance the autonomic nervous system and can help stabilize blood pressure and improve heart rate.

Doing mudra gestures can keep bioenergy and electromagnetic energy from escaping from the body. By joining fingertips together, it forms a closed circuit redirecting energy inward to help heal and bring balance to organs.
As some of you know, I have written about the importance of the five elements in our physical existence. In relation to that, it is considered in traditional Easter sciences, each finger is a transmitter of one of these elements. When a fingertip is brought into contact with the thumb (which is the fire element), that specific elemental energy is either amplified, stabilized, or purified.

The basic understanding is that the thumb is fire, the index finger is air, the middle finger is space, the ring finger is earth and the little finger is water. According to Hirschi in her book, Mudras, the best-known mudra is Chin Mudra. Here, the thumb is symbolic of cosmic (divine) and the index finger is symbolic of individual (human) consciousness. The ultimate or primary goal of yoga is the oneness of humanity with cosmic consciousness. With this gesture, the human being expresses this desire.

I am not a teacher of mudras, that’s a fact, but perhaps the next time you meditate or need to calm your nerves or run-away mind chatter consider this – Sit quietly in a comfy chair or whatever works for you. Place your feet flat on the floor if possible. Place your hands one on each leg palm up. Then join the thumb tip to the index fingertip, close your eyes, take a gentle deep breath and then settle into a quiet even breath. And check those shoulders, make sure they are not wrapped up around your ears in tension. Let go and relax into the experience.

I started doing mudras by instinct during my meditation and as I noticed the difference, I became curious and found the book mentioned here. Please know, there is so much more to doing mudras than what I am sharing here and if you feel like exploring, I do suggest you find a resource to give you more in-depth information. In my case, it is a book. In the meantime, give it a try, you might be pleasantly surprised.