8 Yoga Mudras To Overcome Any Ailments

If you wonder whether you can bank on yoga mudras for ailments, you have come to the right place for advice. What are mudras in the first place? Yoga is not just about curling and twisting your body in different poses. It also involves specific mudras that regulate the energy flow into the body. These gestures are adopted during meditation and pranayama to stimulate specific brain areas. So, what are the different types of yoga mudras? Which ailment does each of these mudras target? Keep scrolling to find out the answers.

Did You Know?

The word ‘Mudra’ is believed to have Sanskrit roots. It stands for ‘mark,’ ‘gesture,’ or ‘seal.’

Hand Yoga Mudra And Their Benefits

Practicing yoga can be a form of therapy that provides stress relief and supports the digestive systems and respiratory systems. It not only offers an immunity boost but may also soothe your nervous system.

Yoga mudras and acupressure can help balance your chakras and promote healing. Alternative medicine approaches like these hand gestures along with Ayurveda can regulate pain management and strengthen the mind-body connection. This self-care practice stimulates healing properties within the body, from the circulatory system to the musculoskeletal system, so holistic health can be achieved. Chronic conditions can also benefit from these finger positions.

Before we learn about the benefits of yoga mudras, let us dig deeper into how they work.

How Do Mudras Work?

All Yogic and Ayurvedic practices are built on the belief that life thrives when there is a balance between the energies corresponding to the major elements like fire, water, air, space, and earth. The mudras are practiced with fingers as they are believed to be the storehouse of magnetic energy (2). Each finger corresponds to each of the panchaboothas (five elements). The thumb denotes fire (agni), the index finger denotes air (vayu), the middle finger denotes sky (akash), the ring finger denotes earth (prithvi), and the little finger denotes water (jal). The placement of each finger and the pressure applied to them may help address the imbalance in the corresponding energies and heal associated illnesses.

Now, let us move forward and take a look at how these mudras may help one overcome ailments.

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There are many different yoga mudras and each of them have a different benefit. Below is the explanation for each.

1.  Gyan Mudra

This is the first yoga mudra pose known as Gyan Mudra or the Mudra of Knowledge.

How to do?

Practice this mudra when meditating. It’s perfect when you do it before sunrise, at the time of Brahma Muhurta. Touch the tip of your index finger with the tip of your thumb. The other three fingers, you may keep it straight or just keep it free, doesn’t matter even if they are slightly bent. This is a very commonly used mudra when practicing meditations.

Duration

Practice this mudra for 5-15 minutes 3 times a day to experience its benefits.

Caution

This is a very beneficial mudra and anyone can practice this.

Benefits

• As the name suggests, this mudra is meant to increase your concentration and memory power.

• This mudra sharpens your brain power.

• It has the ability to cure insomnia.

• Practice this mudra regularly to heal yourself of all mental and psychological disorders like anger, stress, anxiety or even depression.

2. Vayu Mudra

How to do?

This mudra can be practiced in a standing, sitting, or an assumed supine posture. Fold your index finger. As you fold your index finger, you can prominently see two bones of the said finger. They are called phalanx bones. It is the second bone that needs to be secured and pressed down onto the mound of the palm by the thumb as shown in the above picture. The rest of the three fingers should be kept extended as much as possible.

Do this at any time of the day as per your convenience. There is also no compulsion of doing this at an empty stomach. You may also practice this mudra with a full stomach.

Duration

Practice this mudra for 5-20 minutes daily to experience its benefits.

Caution

Once you achieve the benefits from this mudra, stop doing it. After a certain time, it may cause imbalance within your system.

Benefits

As the name suggests vaayu mudra, it balances the air element within your body. This mudra releases excess wind from stomach and body, thereby reducing rheumatic and chest pain and helping in relieving abdominal gas.

3. Agni Mudra (Mudra of Fire)

How to do?

Fold your ring finger and press the second phalanx with the base of your thumb while resting the bent finger on the mound of the palm. Keep the rest of the fingers straight. This mudra should be practiced only in sitting position early in the morning with an empty stomach.

Duration

Practice this mudra for at least 15 minutes daily to experience its benefits.

Caution

But if you are suffering from acidity or indigestion, avoid this mudra.

Benefits

• It helps to dissolve the extra fat boosting metabolism and controls obesity.
• Quickens digestion.
• Improves body strength.
• Reduces stress and tension.
• Controls high cholesterol levels.

Quick Tip

Agni Mudra is also called Agni Vardhak Mudra, which is known to boost the fire element and limit the earth element in the body.

4. Prithvi Mudra (Mudra of Earth)

How to do?

Touch the tip of your ring finger with the tip of your thumb. Pressing the tips of these two fingers, keep the rest of the fingers extended out.

It is preferable that you perform this mudra in the morning. However you may even do it at any time of the day and for any duration. As the name suggests, it is a grounding mudra, and hence, a lotus stance is very helpful to reap benefits of this mudra. Sit in a padmasana keeping the palms of both your hands on your knees with straight elbows. Perform this asana when you feel stressed out and exhausted. Padmasana accompanied by this mudra will immediately perk you up. This is also an amazing mudra yoga for glowing skin.

Duration

Practice this mudra for 10-50 minutes daily to experience its benefits.

Caution

Nothing at all. Perform this asana freely. But since this mudra is assumed in a lotus position, care should be taken not to sit too long so that no stiffness or discomfort is felt in the knee or the hip joint.

Benefits

• It improves blood circulation throughout the body.

• Increases patience and tolerance.

• Increases concentration while meditating.

• Helps strengthen weak and lean bones.

• It reduces weakness, exhaustion, and dullness of mind by creating a grounding effect as the name of this mudra suggests.
• This mudra makes you more beautiful by improving your complexion and giving a natural glow to your skin.

5. Varun Mudra (Mudra of Water)

This is the best yogic mudra for your outer beauty. It has a positive effect on your skin and keeps it away off all problems. A very effective yoga asana for your overall health let us learn to do this mudra with perfection.

How to do?

Lightly touch the tip of your little finger with the tip of your thumb. The rest of the fingers should be kept straight. There is no specific time to perform this mudra. You may do it at any time of the day and in any position, but sitting cross-legged when doing this mudra is preferable.

Duration

Practice this mudra for 20-30 minutes daily to experience its benefits.

Caution

Take care not to press the tip of the little finger near the nail. That will cause dehydration instead of balancing the water level in your body.

Benefits

A number of benefits can be achieved by doing this mudra:

• Varun Mudra balances the water content in our body.

• It activates fluid circulation within the body keeping it moisturized always.

• It relieves skin issues like dryness, skin diseases, and skin infections.

• It adds a natural glow and luster to your face.

• Varun Mudra also relieves and prevents any muscle pains that you may suffer from.

6. Shunya Mudra (Mudra Of Emptiness)

How to do it?

Press the first phalanx of your middle finger with the thumb.

Duration

Practice this mudra for 5-10 minutes daily to experience its benefits.

Benefits

• Practicing this mudra with full concentration is suggestive of relieving ear ailments.

• It is also very helpful if someone is deaf or mentally challenged. But those who are handicapped inborn won’t benefit from this mudra.
  

Cautions

After you are cured of these diseases, stop practicing this mudra.

7. Surya Mudra (Mudra Of The Sun)

How to do it?

Press your ring finger and press it with the thumb just as shown in the picture.

Duration

Practice this mudra for 5-15 minutes 3 times a day to experience its benefits.

Benefits

• It is quite beneficial when it comes to reducing bad cholesterol.
• Want to lose weight? This is an amazing yoga mudra for weight loss that comes handy.
• Reduces anxiety.
• Also improves your digestion.

8. Prana Mudra (Mudra Of Life)

This is a very important mudra as it activates the energy in your body.

How to do it?

This yoga mudra pose should be accompanied along with padmasana. Bend your ring finger and little finger and touch the tip of both these fingers with the tip of your thumb.

There is no specific time to perform this asana. Any time of the day will be suitable.

Duration

Practice this mudra for at least 5 minutes and up to 45 minutes daily to experience its benefits.

Benefits

• This mudra improves your immune system.
• It also increases your eye power and stimulates the eyes.
• It reduces fatigue and tiredness.

So, these are 8 yoga mudras you can try. You can incorporate them into your daily routine with meditation, pranayama, and yoga. You also do not need to be in a meditative state to use mudras. You can do them even while walking, standing, or sitting at the desk.

Carson Becker, a blogger, recalls delving into the world of yoga mudras and making the most out of it. She shares that our hands are constantly performing mudras that are adding to our overall benefit. She feels bliss and considers these as expressions of life, adding, “Hands, more than any other part of our bodies, hold the intelligence of caring and healing. It is an intelligence so subtle that it requires five fingers, 26 bones, 40 tendons and twenty muscles on each hand, not counting twenty more muscles in the wrist…. I have therefore decided to think about Mudras differently. I now approach them not as yoga for my hands, but as yoga originating from my hands (i).”

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you do mudras while walking?

Yes, you can do yoga mudras while walking (1). But make sure you are focused.

Can we do mudras after eating?

Yes, you can do yoga mudras after eating. All you need to do is be fully concentrated.

Which mudra is good for diabetes?

Mudras like surya mudra, prana mudra, and linga mudra may be beneficial for managing diabetes (1). You may also try more yoga mudras for diabetes, which may help improve overall health and well-being.

Illustration: Yoga Mudras To Overcome Any Ailments!!

Image: Dall·E/StyleCraze Design Team

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Reviewer Author Editor Fact Checker

Anirudh GuptaCertified Yoga Instructor

 

Anirudh has 9 years of experience as a Certified Yoga Instructor – RYT 200 – Yoga Alliance from Yoga Vedanta Centre. His teaching style incorporates the therapeutic principles of healing into the asanas and leaves one refreshed and energized.

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Shirin MehdiHealth & Wellness Writer

 

Shirin is a health and wellness writer with three years of experience and specializes in writing articles on yoga and has extensive knowledge about the postures of the asanas. Prior to joining Stylecraze, she interned with an advertising firm as a copywriter and as an editorial intern for a luxury fashion magazine.

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