Yoga is known as a practice that maintains and preserves your health and well-being. Many people think that yoga is all about movement, but not so! During my 200-hour yoga teacher training, I was able to learn about higher yogic practices like mudras. In this article we’re diving into Prana mudra. It’s a simple mudra practice that activates and charges up the life force inside you.
With time, it aids in the evolution of your body, mind, and emotions. Let’s explore more of the benefits of this yogi ritual below!
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What is Prana mudra
The Prana mudra (prah-nah moo-dra) is the most prominent of all the yoga mudras. It is also known as Pran Mudra, Kapha Kaarak Mudra, and Pitta-Nashak Mudra.
This mudra has been depicted in various religions and traditions. Some include Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Indian classical dance. It has a rich history that spans over thousands of years.
The purpose of this yogi hands symbol
Prana mudra helps to activate dormant energy stored in your body. Therefore, this hand gesture is known as the “Life Force Seal.” It also stimulates the Root Chakra (Moladhara Chakra).
Practicing it removes impurities in your body. It increases blood circulation and improves your immune system. A regular practice can help alleviate cramps, leg pains, and muscle spasms due to accumulated blood in these areas.
It can help stabilize your mind. It transforms matters of impatience, fatigue, and irritability into enthusiasm, delight, and joy.
Practicing this mudra improves your awareness, focus, and productivity. It also helps to decrease sensations of nervousness and boosts the sense of self-confidence.
The 5 elements of hand mudras
Yoga mudras are hand gestures. Using your fingers, you make shapes with your hands. When one of your fingers touches your thumb tip, a circuit is complete, and you’re now holding a mudra. This invigorates subtle energies and pathways in your body, and some can even open your heart chakra.
In Ayurveda, the physical body is believed to consist of five elements, each of which is connected to a finger:
- Earth (Ring finger)
- Air (Index finger)
- Fire (Thumb)
- Water (Pinky finger)
- Sky (Middle finer)
5 benefits of Prana mudra
Prana mudra is simple to incorporate into your daily routine with various physical, spiritual, and mental health benefits, including:
- Stimulates relaxation: This mudra has a relaxing effect on the mind. It improves awareness, focus, and productivity. It helps to stimulate sensations of delight, joy, hope, self-confidence, and perseverance. This mudra aids in overcoming mental tension, anger, restlessness, and irritability.
- Increases energy: Prana mudra, the mudra of life, is an energetic pick-me-up. It helps to improve the circulation of energy in the body and maintain energy levels.
- Enhances meditation: Practicing prana mudra will provide a better meditation experience. It helps maintain your meditation for a longer duration.
- Stimulates rejuvenation: With a regular practice, you will eventually feel a vibration in your body, which will leave you feeling lighter.
- Promotes spiritual awakening: Practice this mudra during your meditation. It will lead you to have more spiritual awakening experiences.
How to do Prana mudra in four steps
Performing Prana mudra is simple. Here's how to do it in four steps:
- Find a comfortable seat in a relaxed corner of your home. I suggest you settle into an easy cross-legged seated position (Sukhasana).
- Gently rest your hands on top of your knees. Join the tips of your thumb, ring finger, and little finger together in each hand. Apply gentle pressure. Keep your index and middle fingers relaxed and extended out.
- Close your eyes and draw your awareness to the patterns of your breath. Inhale to fill up your lungs with life energy (prana) and slowly exhale.
- Continue to be a witness to your breathing patterns and visualize each cell in your body being revitalized. With the mind focused, you will feel a sudden vibration throughout your body.
Do not press your fingertips hard while you practice the mudra. This common mistake will affect your ability to focus and concentrate.
When and how to use Prana mudra
It's best to practice prana mudra on an empty stomach in the morning. If you are unable to maintain a morning practice, ensure that you do it an hour after eating.
The energizing effect of this mudra is enhanced when your mind is calm. I suggest that you practice the hand gesture after meditation to reap the best results.
Pran mudra can be practiced in an easy cross-legged seat (Sukhasana), in lotus pose (Padmasana), or even in a kneeling pose (Vajrasana). It is suggested that you practice the mudra in a single session of 20 to 30 minutes.
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Takeaway
I like to think of this mudra as an energetic pick-me-up as it revitalizes your mental well-being. This hand gesture also represents vitality. It's an easy practice to incorporate into your daily routine, and its powerful benefits can also impact your physical and mental health.
It stimulates the root chakra, enhances immunity, and increases blood circulation. To explore this ancient practice further, learn about other mudras, such as Prithvi Mudra and Gyan Mudra.
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