Exploring Mudras in Meditation
Mudras are how we position our hands when meditating. Each Mudra can seal the energy in the body, and when meditation, we want to seal that energy in as it's positive and restful.
Here are a few for you to try next time you meditate.
Chin Mudra:
Index finger and thumb are together with the palms open and resting facing down on your knees or thighs - a gesture of grounding.
Jnana Mudra:
Index finger and thumb together with palms open and facing up on your knees or thighs - a gesture of surrender.
Anjali Mudra:
Hands together in a prayer position at the heart, thumbs touching the heart space. We use Anjali in Asana classes to gesture gratitude or alignment with our consciousness. For example, a mountain pose or tree pose aids in balancing the mind and body for stillness.
Dhyani Mudra:
Placing the hands in that lap, the finger of the non-dominant hand lay over the top of the dominant hand as the thumb tips touch. This mudra is popular in contemplative meditations.
Uttara Bodhi Mudra:
The hands are clasped together, except for the index finger and thumb, which meet each other and point towards the sky. The palms are open, with space between each hand, as the fingers point towards the sky. Uttara Bodhi is the mudra for enlightenment, which is said to dispel fear and recharge the body with energy.
There are hundreds of Mudras, each said to stimulate the mind-body connection differently. These are the most common, but sometimes, a simple palm up or palm facing down is all you need.
Meditation should feel comfortable in your body; if adding mudra does not make meditation more restful, don’t use any. Every time you sit to meditate, listen to what your body needs. It might just be calling for stillness; sometimes, a mudra, pranayama or guided practice is not needed. Maybe it’s music and simple deep breaths that you need. Every meditation is different, and that is what makes it so powerful.
I invite you to be curious about where your meditation will take you, which mudras you’ll try and how you can incorporate more peace and stillness into your life.
Comment with your favourite Mudra. Share the strangest one you have tried and the one you use as your go-to. Thank you for reading; more on meditation practices coming soon.
