mudras & the fabric of your conciousness

Mudra is a Sanskrit term that means seal or symbol. The translation can be taken literally, figuratively, spiritually, psychologically and emotionally. Since the beginning of our presence on earth we have used our hands to communicate. Before verbal language became refined enough to be the seed we now know is necessary to grow a culture, and the glue that initially anchors a culture, hand gestures dominated communication.

Bodily gestures and movement were also key elements of communication. Consider how often while speaking you use your hands to articulate a point by animating the space around you. Think for a moment how important hand gestures and movements are in our contemporary and traditional cultures. The simple firmness or lightness of a handshake for example may have many inferences.

As seals, mudras imply an idea, an energy, or path to take, and can be the gateway to our inner life. They are authentic and spontaneous human symbols of what may come, what has past, what is present and the quality of that presence. Mudras express a variety of feelings, thoughts, emotions and intentions. They make direct statements about our consciousness and as such have direct influence on our consciousness.

Yoga is full of mudras. They are most typically done with the hands, but each posture can be considered a mudra as well. While practicing one must express a specific body level energy to be in a pose. The shape of the pose has a reciprocal affect on the whole body-mind-spirit complex. The affect is very personal, and over time as one swims in the waters of one's practice the subtle, sublime affects become increasingly clear.

We go into and out of spontaneous authentic personal mudras all day long every day of our lives. Think of the posture you take when you feel happy, sad, in love, angry, bright and intelligent, fatigued or uninterested. We are in a constant state of bodily shape-change that reflects our self, as well as affects our self. How aware can you be of this ebb and flow, these shifts of shape?

Mudras of the hands are easily within our immediate reach as bodily movements and shape changes we can do to affect our consciousness and well-being. Put your hands together with your palms open and fingertips pointing skyward. Place them gently on the center of your chest (anjali mudra), then close your eyes and feel.

There is most likely a relatively quick affect on your awareness. This is a mudra that most people of the world do while praying. The point with mudras is to do them, practice them and play with them. Then simply observe their affect on your body-mind-spirit. Their impact may be quite obvious or extremely subtle, and the affect may come and go, or increase and be more noticeable with regular practice.

Observe what is there, resisting any temptation to make something happen, or even seeking for something to happen. I heard a great yoga teacher say, "Looking happens, hearing happens, tasting happens, feeling happens, smelling happens." Give thanks for, honor and trust your powers of observation by just being present and patient for how the mudra affects you, and the fabric of your consciousness.

Chris Hoskins is a yoga teacher trained in the Krishnamacharya lineage. He is based in northern California's Bay Area, where he conducts workshops and one-on-one yoga classes. Chris also teaches at the Claremont Resort & Spa in Berkeley, the Berkeley Ironworks Climbing & Fitness Gym.

some approaches to mudras practive

Practice when it is most practical for you. In the morning the body-mind is fresh, in the afternoon it needs refreshing and in the evening there may be fatigue. Practice them initially according to their described affects and pay close attention to their affects on you. Use this feedback as a jump-off point into experimenting with doing them at different times, and in different combinations.

If you are having a hard time tracking your response you might try taking a few notes. It can be fun to look at past responses to the practice. Use notes for retrospective reference. Resist using them as a strict guideline. Remember you want to connect with your present response, not an idea of what that should be based on a past remembrance.

If you have a personal yoga and meditation practice, insert mudras anywhere during your practice to help deepen your attention. Before and or after asana is good, or during pauses in asana practice. Jnana, Anjali, Bear and Jupiter can add particular clarity to the energetics of asana.

Practice the mudras for different durations, generally holding them as long as you can without creating undo stress. Venus Lock, Jnana, Anjali, Surya, Buddhi and Buddha support extended stays in meditation.

JNANA or GUYAN MUDRA: The tip of the thumb touches the tip of the index finger, stimulating knowledge and ability. Jupiter symbolizes the index finger, and the thumb represents the ego. Guyan Mudra imparts receptivity & calm.

ACTIVE JNANA or GUYAN MUDRA: The first joint of the index finger is bent under the first joint of the thumb, imparting active knowledge.

SURYA: Tip of the ring finger (Uranus or the Sun) touches the tip of the thumb, giving energy, health and intuition.

BUDDHI MUDRA: Tip of little finger (Mercury) touches tip of thumb for clear and intuitive communication.

JUPITER MUDRA: With the two index fingers together, the power of Jupiter, or good luck and expansion is activated. Together they focus your energy to break through barriers.

BEAR GRIP: Left palm faces out from body with thumb down, and right palm faces body, thumb up, and fingers are curled and hooked together to stimulate the heart and intensify concentration.

VENUS LOCK: Interlace fingers with left little finger on the bottom, with the right index finger on top for men and the left for women. The Venus mounds at the base of the thumbs are pressed together channeling sensuality and sexuality, and glandular balance, helping to focus and concentrate.

ANJALI or PRAYER MUDRA: Palms are pressed together, neutralizing and balancing yin & yang, for centering.

BUDDHA MUDRA: Right hand rests on left for men, left on right for women, palms up, thumbs tips touching each other in a receptive gesture.

KECHARI or ROAMING THROUGH SPACE MUDRA: After exhaling and before inhaling curl the tongue back to touch the ceiling of the palate until it reaches where the holes of the nostrils open into the mouth. Pause here with the throat relaxed, eyes closed and mind calm. Then release the tongue as you slowly inhale into the belly. Avoid creating any stress throughout.