Amazing Mudras for Healthy Body

Mudras or “hand gestures” are a very powerful ancient form of science which helps bring harmony among the various systems of the human body.

The ancient Rishis of India knew more about the human body than the present age medical science.  In fact, the modern medical science appears to be novice in comparison to the advances made by these Rishis about human body, how it works and what is relation between body and external forces of the world.

Mudras are neural science.  Just touching one fingertip to different others in some combination makes a circuit and energy flows, and all the systems involved in that circuit get that benefit.

There are hundreds of Mudras known to us, but let us look us at some of the major Mudras and their healing properties.

The five fingers of our hand represent the elements mentioned below.

The important 5 Mudras are,

1. Prana Mudra 

Method:  Bend ring finger and little finger and touch the tip of thumb with their tips keeping the remaining two fingers stretched.

Benefits:  It improves immunity, improves the power of eyes and reduces eye related diseases, It removes the vitamin deficiency and fatigue.

2.  Gyana Mudra

Method:  This Mudra is made by joining the tip of the index finger and thumb. The remaining three fingers should be kept straight.

Benefits:  Many mental problems get cured with regular practice of this pose.  The body and mind both get relaxed.  You can attain intelligence.

3.  Apana Mudra

Method:  This Mudra is performed by joining the tips of thumb, middle and ring finger. Pinky and index fingers are extended.

Benefits:  This mudra may help you to eliminate impurities from your body i.e., excreta, urine, sweat. It particularly works with your kidneys, problems with gas in the digestive system, constipation and piles, and diseases related to your mouth, nose, ears and eyes.

4.  Apana Vayu Mudra

Method:  The Mudra is performed by touching the tips of the middle finger and ring to the tip of thumb, while the index finger touches the base of thumb and little finger stretched out.

Benefits:  It benefits the heart and its practice during the attack of angina definitely helps to improve the coronary circulation and pain of angina is relieved within few minutes. It helps to reduce the gas formation in the body.
  

5.  Varun Mudra

Method:  This Mudra is achieved by joining the tips of the thumbs and the little fingers.

Benefits:  By practicing this posture 5 to 30 minutes for 30 days, it helps to cure skin disease, excessive perspiration; it purifies the blood and balances its circulation, making the body flexible.

Pranayama: Breathing Exercise

Pranayama has in itself many interesting exercises designed for your lungs to make them work at its optimum level. Learning pranayama may be the one good thing you can do in your life to lead a more happy and energetic life.

Not a second goes without breathing, but still we neglect it until such a time comes when we struggle to breathe properly.  To maintain optimum respiratory health it is important to exercise it by deep breathing.  We are bestowed with an ancient Indian science called Pranayama developed by Indian yogis; it brings a total rejuvenation of each and every cell in our body.

There are 3 very popular variations in Pranayama.

Let me briefly illustrate it:

1. Kapalabhati.

2. Bhastrika.
3. Anuloma-Viloma.

Kapalabhati means “which makes the skull shine.”  In this you sit cross legged on the floor, keeping a small pillow under your buttocks so that your spine is straight, or on a chair keeping the spine straight.  Then, you inhale fully with both nostrils to fill your abdomen and release.  Do this three times.  Now, here expel the air from your lungs by forcefully pushing the abdomen inside, and the inhalation should be natural. 

Do it one after the after 20 times, then rest.  You can now continue to do it for two more rounds of 20 each.  Remember to do it according to your capacity and not overexert the lungs.  Starting you may be able to do only 1 exhalation per second, but as you pick up, you can do 2 exhalations per minute.  If you feel dizzy or lightheaded, then stop for a while before continuing.

It is a wonderful technique to do in the mornings.  You can feel the cells reverberating for some time. This tremendously increases the lung capacity.

Bhastrika means “bellows.”  In this technique, after exhalation, the inhalation is also done forcefully.  After one forceful exhalation and forceful inhalation, do not stop, continue it.  Do this for two to three rounds of 20 each.  Remember to do according to your capacity and take rest when you feel exhausted and sip a little water before continuing.

Anuloma-Viloma means ‘up or down’, or ‘alternate’ or ‘reversed’. In this technique, keep your right nostril closed with the right thumb and inhale from the left nostril for say, 5 seconds, then hold the breathe in your chest for 10 seconds.  Then, slowly exhale through both nostrils for 20 seconds.  This completes one round.  Next, you can close your left nostril with the ring and little finger and breathe through the right nostril for say, 5 seconds, then hold the breathe in 10 seconds.

Then, slowly exhale through both nostrils for 20 seconds.  Do three rounds of each alternate nostril.  This is best to be done in evenings to calm your mind and balances the right and left brain.
You may ask, why is this ratio of exhalation longer than inhalation?  Then the answer would be to flush out the toxins from your body vigorously.  The holding of breath oxygenates the cells making you refreshed.

Lastly, the most important thing is to learn from a good yoga guru, who explains all the minute details and to clear your mind of any doubts.

Rest be assured that you will never be short of energy in your life by practicing these techniques.