What are Yoga Hand Poses?
Yoga hand poses, or yoga hand mudras, are hand gestures that have a tradition of affecting various states of consciousness and also physical conditions. As an example, if someone were to make it a practice to perform the gesture associated with fearlessness, it is thought that eventually that person will become more fearless himself.
So if there is an area of your life or health that you want to change, you might consider developing the practice of hand yoga. The great thing about these yoga hand poses is that you can practice them pretty much anywhere – there is no need to set up a special area to perform them or go to a gym or studio. You can practice them while watching television, or while on a long commute. That said, I advise doing them in a calm environment so you can be in the proper meditative state in order to get the most out of these hand positions.
To get the most effect, perform them with both hands, and for up to 15 minutes. You can incorporate it into your meditation session.
Yoga Hand Poses for the Body
- Circulation: Rudra
- Food utilization and processing: Apan Pushan
- Heart – Blood pressure: Apan Vayu
- Joints: Vayu
- Lungs: Bronchial Mudra Pushan
- Overall Health (weight, colds, digestion): Linga
- Skin/muscles/appearance: Varuna
- Throat: Shankh
- Vision: Pran
- Vitality: Pran
Yoga Hand Poses for the Mind and Emotions
Join the tip of your thumb with the tips of your middle and ring fingers.
Benefits:
- Liver, gall bladder
- Waste removal
- Self confidence
- Patience, Serenity, Inner Harmony
Apan Vayu Mudra
Bend the forefinger down so that it touches the mound of the thumb. Hold the little finger straight. Join the tips of middle and ring fingers to the tip of thumb so that they all touch each other.
Benefits:
- Strengthens the heart, normalizes blood pressure
- Vomiting
- Self Confidence
- Purifies the entire body
Asthma Mudra
Press together the fingernails of the middle finger of both hands and keep other fingers extended.
Benefits:
- Acute asthma attack – perform the Bronchial Mudra for 4 to 6 minutes, then perform the Asthma Mudra until breathing has become normal again.
- Ongoing asthma treatment – perform each mudra for 5 minutes, 5 times a day.
Bronchial Mudra
Touch the little finger to the base of the thumb, and touch the ring finger to the upper thumb joint. Touch the middle finger to the pad of the thumb. Extend the index finger.
Benefits:
- Acute asthma attack – perform the Bronchial Mudra for 4 to 6 minutes, then perform the Asthma Mudra until breathing has become normal again.
- Ongoing asthma treatment – perform each mudra for 5 minutes, 5 times a day.
Linga Mudra
Join your palms in front of your chest and interlock the facing fingers together keeping your thumbs upright.
Benefits:
- Weight Reduction
- Colds and Coughs
- Strengthens lungs
- Digestion
Pran Mudra
Join the tips of the thumb, ring finger, and little finger together. Extend the other fingers (index and middle).
Benefits:
- Increases vitality, reduces fatigue and nervousness
- Improves vision, eye health
- Assertiveness, self-confidence
- Clear thoughts and ideas.
Join the tip of the ring finger with the tip of the thumb. Extend all the other fingers in a straight and comfortable position.
Benefits:
- Liver, stomach
- Strengthens body and mind, provides inner stability and self assurance
- Glowing skin
- Increases energy
Pushan Mudra
Left hand: Join the tips of the thumb, midde, and ring fingers together. Extend the other fingers (index and little).
Right hand: Join the tips of the thumb, index, and middle fingers together. Extend the other fingers (ring and little).
Benefits:
- Food absorption and waste elimination.
- Absorption of oxygen and expulsion of carbon dioxide
- Detox
Rudra Mudra
Touch the tips of index and ring fingers to the tip of thumb. Extend the other fingers (middle and little).
Benefits:
- Improves blood circulation and low blood pressure
- Dizziness
- Clarity of thought
- Improves eyesight
- Improves breathing
- Improves concentration
Shankh Mudra
With the right palm facing you, grab the left thumb. Touch the right thumb with your left index finger. Wrap the fingers of the left hand lightly onto the closed right fist. Put light pressure with the remaining fingers of the left hand onto the closed fist of the right hand.
Benefits:
- Thyroid, throat
- Blood vessels, muscular system
- Digestion
- Voice enhancement
Vayu Mudra
Bend the index finger down and hold in place with your thumb. Keep the remaining three fingers comfortably straight.
Benefits:
- Rheumatism
- Sciatica
- Stiff Neck
- Joint Pain in hands, knees, and feet
Varuna Mudra
Join your little finger and the tip of your thumb. Keep other fingers comfortably straight.
Benefits:
- Dry skin – restores moisture
- Relaxes muscles ~ alleviates cramp
- Diarrhea and dehydration
- Enhance beauty
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With this grip, they extend their thumb beyond the clue and mid bring, limiting the mobility of the fingers.