The key to spiritual & mental wellbeing.
By Emily James: Columnist
Mudra means seal, a symbolic gesture or position using the fingers. Most often used in tantric worship, yoga, dance and music.
Mudras are hand gestures which are often used in yoga classes, dance and meditation. Houghton & Mackay’s Emily-Rose will take you through a few different mudras and uncover their deeper meanings. There will also be a short meditation for you to try while at your desk.
Many of us are familiar with the gesture of bringing our palms together (Anjali mudra) as this is used universally in many different cultures. You may recognize many mudras in Indian art and statues. Usually the word has connotations of spirituality and connects us to the divine energy or spirit; however we technically use mudras in many different contexts to communicate through our body language.
‘Mudrasare gestures of the hands, face and body that promote physical health, psychological balance and spiritual awakening’ (Le Page and Le Page).
The word ‘mudra’ comes from two Sanskrit words: mud meaning ‘delight’ and rati ‘to bring forth pleasure’ and are associated with Indian spiritual traditions based on this root.
In the comprehensive book Mudras for healing and transformation, Joseph and Lilian Le Page highlight the curious history of mudras, which dates back more than two-thousand years. Mudras are used widely in yoga therapeutic settings and can help to explore yogic philosophy in terms of the five-koshas, seven chakras, five elements and eight limbs of yoga as highlighted in the key yogic text the yoga sutras of Patanjali; a fundamental source of knowledge and guidance for many practitioners.
Scientifically, mudras can connect to our brain and nerves: ‘our fingers contain a large number of sensory and nerve endings, making them a powerful vehicle for communicating directly with the brain and the rest of the body’ (Le Page and Le Page). Many of the mudras described in the book are said to help alleviate various physical and mental conditions such as osteoporosis and depression.
When the five fingers are touched and pressed to form a Mudra, it affects the levels of the five elements in our body, thus balancing those elements and inducing good health. Advaita Vedanta
The names of the mudras are often related to the five elements, to various gods and goddesses and their qualities, or directly towards the area of the body that will be focused on. For example, Hakini mudra is related to the goddess Hakini who represents the third eye, symbolising intuition, clarity and inner knowing. We will look at this mudra in more detail later in the article. Mudras are helpful for directing our prana (breath) or life-force to specific areas of the body, for example Mira mudra can help to increase breath capacity for those with asthma.
We will now look at a few examples of mudras with their benefits, and you may follow along with the guided meditation script below. If you have any health conditions or are unsure of whether or not the practice is suitable for you, please check with your GP prior to trying any of the practices.
NOW OVER TO YOU
Padma mudra (1): gesture of the lotus, for balancing the fourth chakra (heart)
Place your palms into a prayer position, then keeping thumbs and little fingers together, extend your middle three fingers (index, middle and ring finger) outwards. See Example
‘Nurturing the garden of my heart allows for the blossoming of unconditional love’ (Le Page and Le Page).
Matsya mudra (2): gesture of the fish for osteoarthritis and health of the joints
Hold your palms down without any spaces between the fingers. Place the palm of the right hand on top of the left hand. Extend your thumbs straight out like the fins of a fish. See Example.
‘Bathed in waves of nourishing energy, my body moves freely and comfortably’ (Le Page and Le Page).
Hakini mudra (3): gesture of the Goddess Hakini Benefits: facilitating full yogic breathing, creating a sense of wholeness and supporting overall health and healing. See Example.
Guided meditation:
- Find a comfortable seated position.
- Bring all the tips of your fingers and thumbs together, and gently round your fingers, forming a globe shape.
- You may rest your hands in this position in your lap, or steadily in front of your abdomen.
- Breathe gently for a few rounds of your natural breath, perhaps taking three full deep breaths, perhaps inviting more breath into your body.
- Sense the contact points between the tips of each of your fingers and your thumb.
- You may like to add the quote from Le Page and Le Page ‘with greater wisdom and clarity, all facets of my being are integrated as a seamless unity’.
- Consider the idea of integration of opposite ideas. The right and left side of the body, our conscious and unconscious mind, materialism and spirituality.
- Stay here for 2-5 minutes, depending on how comfortable you feel holding the gesture.
- Notice any effects from the mudra.
- Feel free to continue with your own silent meditation, or you may like to lie down in Savasana for up to ten minutes, adding a warm blanket and eye pillow for extra comfort. It may be helpful to set a timer so that you can fully relax in the relaxation.
The practice of mudras is best accompanied by a healthy lifestyle in general including a nutritious diet, exercise and an optimal amount of sleep. The mesmerising world of mudras may help us to focus our energy by nurturing our physical and mental health, guiding us to focus our mind in meditation and for building concentration and resilience in our daily lives.
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