When practicing yoga asana, you are encouraged to use your body with the intention of drawing yourself inward. Postures are used to understand the self. Focus on the hands is used in dristi, a focal point. However, there is much more to the hands than just creating a visionary focus. The term mudra applies to the use of hand gestures that channel your body’s energy flow or redirects energy. It refers to a gesture, sign, or seal. There are more than 100 known mudras that have been developed over the centuries, with about 60 that are common. Our hands are thought to hold energetic points for these elements and thus the use of mudras is a way of manipulating these elements. There not only connecting principles at play but also freeing actions taking place depending on the mudra.
The hands are an expressive part of our bodies, with the ability to make a wide range of gestures, as well as subtle movements. They help us communicate, connect, and convey thoughts and feelings. Mudras stem from Hinduism and have been used in many forms of dance, including Kathakali, Manipuri, and Kuchipudi. During these dances, the hands express various emotions. We can think about the many ways we use our hands in our daily lives as well, in the form of a wave or handshake, for example. Mudras are also used to influence prana, or life force energy. Holding a mudra has the ability to move prana around the body, or redirect it. We can direct prana toward a particular part of the body or use mudras to create a higher state of consciousness. There is a story in the Cherena Samhita in which Shiva explains to Parvati that mudras will grant great happiness and health. The Hatha Yoga Pradipeka states that mudras are a way to activate Kundalini energy, passing through the Sushumna nadi, and moving upward throughout the chakras. If one is not familiar with these concepts, current practices such as reflexology hae shown that specific parts of the hands and feet correspond to other parts of the body. For instance, the pads of the forefingers have shown to have an association with the sinuses. Stimulating these areas of the hand has activated the region of the body associated with it. Whether you are practicing reflexology, acupressure, or mudra, the goal is similar: to heal the body and mind and promote wellness. The hand is thought to be associated with the five elements: Thumb: Fire, associated with digestion, muscles, sight as well as inner strength, willpower and self-esteem. Also considered Brahman, ultimate reality Index Finger: Air, associated with breathing, lungs, heart & circulatory system, arms and hands. Also assocaited with freedom, joy, stress relief Middle Finger: Space, ether, associated with the throat, mouth, ears, hunger, thirst, weight, hearing. Also inner peace, self-expression, creativity, communication Ring Finger: Earth, associated with skeletal and immune systems, feet and legs, sense of smell, and stability or groundedness Pinky Finger: Water, associated with general wellbeing, body fluids, urinary and reproductive systems, sense of taste. Also overall health, the ability to let go and move forward, to be adaptive and go with the flow Palm: Mind, the overall control of the senses and body, and concentration. Clarity, intuition, intelligence, imagination and insight are all associated
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