8 Powerful Mudras To Calm The Mind, Heal The Body & Expand Your Spirit

Awaken the Power of Your Divine Self

You often hear that your health is in your hands. Well, it literally is!

Mudras (mooh-drahs), or hand gestures, come from ancient yogic practices — which means, they are something innate. Something we are born with, and then forget through a type of spiritual amnesia

In the practice of Yoga, you are encouraged to use your body in many ways, but ultimately with the intention of drawing yourself inward.

Inward towards what, you might well ask?

Your breath goes out, towards the world, and it also retracts and goes inwards, towards your very essence, who you are, beyond name and form.

I noticed when my son Jayden was born that he would naturally make certain mudras with his hands. This was totally spontaneous - and thus largely unconscious. The fact that my wife had been teaching yoga all the time she was pregnant might have had something to do it :)

I also have noticed, through self-observation, in stressful situations that I will first become very alert, and that my hands (and fingers) may adopt a certain mudra, quite spontaneously.

Try this the next time you’re stressed: allow your hands to be relaxed in your lap, and hold your right thumb with your left fist. Breathe deeply in and out several times (for 10 to 20 breaths), watching your thoughts.

Mudras are powerful tools because they help recenter the mind and redirect your body’s energy flow — immediately.

They are little miracles.

“Life is a series of endless miracles which keep happening in our lives almost all the time. They happen so effortlessly and without warning that they often pass by unrecognised. They visit the humblest as well as the most powerful, without prejudice or favour, and defy all logic and rational explanation.” Rajendar Menen

There are more than 100 known mudras that have been developed over the centuries!

I’d like to share a few of these important hand mudras that can act as a powerful therapy when combined with Presence (or Mindfulness).

Most of them can be performed any time of the day as a part of your yoga or meditation practice — or when you’re on the go and don’t have much time to spare.

Masters use them all the time, discreetly, in full view of everyone, but you might not even realise it.

Many secrets are hidden in plain sight!

Mudras for Better Health

Mudras are hand (and finger) gestures that we can adopt during meditation or pranayama (breathing exercises). They are considered to be ritual gestures, and you can often see them depicted in ancient scripts and Hindu and Buddhist images. However, mudras can also involve the whole body.

In many yoga classes, the usual mudra used in seated positions at the end of class is where you touch the tip of your first finger to the tip of your thumb, which signifies the ego dissolving into spirit.

According to ancient teachings, mudras direct the flow of energy to the body and stimulate different areas of the brain. They help to maintain health and can improve various ailments over time.

Sacred elements

In the esoteric context, each finger corresponds to one natural element — air, water, earth, fire and ether (empty space).

Mudras modify energy flow, changing the natural equilibrium of air, fire, water, earth, and ether within the body-mind continuum; thus facilitating healing and health restoration.

Referred to as 'akasha' in Sanskrit, ether is the element that comes first in yogic and Ayurvedic thinking. Ether is without the firmness of earth, the coolness of water, the heat of fire or even the movement of wind. It is therefore the very essence of 'emptiness'. The space element is the most subtle of all elements.

• Fire (Agni)- Thumb

• Air (Vayu)- Index Finger

• Ether (Akasha) - Middle Finger

• Earth (Prithvi) - Fourth/Ring Finger

• Water (Jal) - Little Finger

In this post, I’ll share eight easy to learn mudras you can do. They improve memory and concentration, help heal abdominal pain and bloating, awaken the life force, improve intuition, help you concentrate, improve metabolism and digestion, and help to remove self-limiting beliefs (obstacles) which stand in the way of your fulfilment.

Announcement: Thanks to everyone who’s signed up for a paid membership thus far - and to those who have promised to sign up soon! :) Your small monthly contribution really means a lot to me as I can keep doing what I love (writing and teaching, plus being of service) and take care of my 6 year old son and my elderly mother. These real world needs are met through your kind willingness to be a part of this exciting new community, and help me cover real costs as I seek to impact more people across the globe.

1. Gyan Mudra – Improve Memory and Concentration

Sign up for 7 day trial subscription below and join the ET community. Awaken to your inner power and receive subscriber-only benefits! Get your urgent life questions answered through practical spiritual guidance!