Sanskrit Word of the Day: MUDRA

by Danielle Schwartz

Mudra is a Sanskrit word that translates as gesture or seal.  A mudra is a combination of subtle physical movements that alter mood, attitude, and perception which in turn deepen awareness and concentration.  Mudras can also have a profound effect on our physical bodies and their healing powers.  There are 5 types of mudras:  hand, head, postural, lock, and perineal.  In our free online course we teach 4 different hand mudras to you.

Mudras are effective at redirecting energy (prana) in much the same way as a mirror can redirect sunlight or a cliff can redirect the sound of a fog horn.  Our chakras are continuously emitting prana (energy) that escapes the body and dissipates into our external world.  Each mudra redirects our prana back inward and has a different effect on our mind, body, and spirit.  One example is a mudra that touches the thumb tip to the index finger tip, it engages the motor cortex in a subtle manner, looping the energy from the brain, down through the connected fingers and back again.

Mudras are often performed with an asana (yoga pose) and/or pranayama (breathwork) or after having completed a yoga practice.  Throughout our free online course we offer short practices that provides you with an opportunity to incorporate the mudras into your life.

Please join us for this seva offering, a free 4 week, online course teaching you about mudras and how to practice yoga with them. 

Click HERE to get your free course NOW!