Veggie Blog

Energize your meditation practice with the use of mudras. Mudra means hand gesture, and the best known mudra is the Jnana Mudra where the thumb and the index finger touch. This mudra or gesture represents, “the oneness of humanity with cosmic consciousness.” If you try this mudra while in meditation, you may feel the sensation of energy cycling through and around you. In her book, Ms. Hirschi demonstrates over 70 mudras that range from assisting you with weight-loss (Ling Mudra, pg. 72) to mudras that help with enlightenment (Bhumisparsha Mudra, pg. 156). “Mudras, Yoga in your Hands,” is a wonderful resource to have on your journey of health and well-being.

Yoga for the hands–sounds too good to be true. Do it at the office, on an airplane, lying in bed. Seasoned yoga teacher Gertrud Hirschi has used these hand postures to ease asthma, relieve flu symptoms, think more effectively, relieve tension, even have a bowel movement. The possibilities she attributes to these ancient Indian techniques are endless. Join the tips of the index finger and thumb: this clears the mind. Switch the thumb to the little finger: this restores the body’s fluid balance. It’s not quite that easy, of course. Hirschi is careful to lay out exercise regimens, related herbal remedies, and associated affirmations. Like a classroom instructor, she guides with simultaneous breathing advice and conjures up helpful images. From building character to healing emotional pain, from bringing luck to connecting with the divine, mudras can work wonders. Now limber up those digits and lets get into spiritual shape.