“Put your hands together” and “put your hands together in the center of your heart” are the key words in almost every yoga class. The simple act of placing the palm of your hand on the center of your chest can express gratitude. It’s also a way to stabilize yourself or give your arms a rest in challenging poses.
The deep meaning and benefits of this hand pose go beyond physical yoga poses. Its official name is Anjali Mudra. Mudra is a hand movement that affects the energy of the body. The word Anjali (pronounced “un-juh-lee”) means sacrifice. Anjali Mudra is an attitude of prayer or obedience as well as an attitude of gratitude.
There are hundreds of mudras. In yoga, mudras are used in meditation or as part of a yoga pose. The word mudra means seal or sign, so you’ll often see mudras named that way. Heart mudra, life mudra, and knowledge mudra are common mudras in meditation.
Mudras help you access the subtle body – the union of mind, intellect and ego. Each part of the hand is connected to a different part of the mind or body. Forming the fingers and hands into mudras can activate other parts of the body. Mudras can direct energy flow to your brain and even change your mood.
How can it be possible to change your mentality just by moving your hands? This is what the mind-body connection is all about. Each finger represents one of five different elements in the universe. The thumb is fire, the index finger is wind, the middle finger is fate, the ring finger is earth, and the little finger is water.
Fingers are also associated with consciousness. Universal consciousness is represented by the thumb and personal consciousness by the index finger.
Mudras have existed for thousands of years. They originated in ancient India and are still a spiritual practice in Hinduism and Buddhism today. In art and sculpture, the Buddha’s mudra is often depicted as a variety of mudras. Mudras emphasize different parts of the Buddha’s philosophy: meditation, teaching, and generosity.
Dhyana Mudra (hands lightly placed on knees) is a meditative mudra. The teaching mudra Vitarka-Mudra is performed by placing the right hand at chest level and joining the thumb and index finger in a circle. Varada Mudra means generosity. Right hand straight, palm up, fingers down. Place your left hand face up on your knee.
Anjali Mudra also has physical benefits such as: B. Increases strength and flexibility of arms and wrists. This mudra calms your mind and allows you to focus on your breath. Balanced breathing allows good oxygen circulation to the heart.
Now that you know the basics of mudra, let’s take a deeper look at Anjali mudra.
Anjali Mudra Instructions
Anjali Mudra Instructions
Whether you’ve done Anjali Mudra once or a hundred times, it’s worth checking out the proper structure of this mudra. Sit in a comfortable position with your legs crossed or tucked under your hips. Make sure you’re not slouching — straighten your spine and tuck your jaw in slightly. When you tuck in your chin, your neck lengthens.
Bring your palms together to touch the center of your chest. Gently press your thumbs into the bone in the center of the chest – the sternum. Squeeze your shoulder blades and expand your chest. Bring your elbows slightly forward so they are in line with your wrists. Take a few breaths here, then gently bring your hands together.
Anjali Mudra is a body balancing exercise that brings together the left and right sides of the body. It also connects the left and right sides of self-awareness. In yogic philosophy, the left and right sides of the self are opposites. The right side represents masculinity, logic and strength. The right side represents feminine, intuitive and gentle qualities.
We all have each of these qualities and Anjali Mudra helps to balance them. Balance is calming and grounding. It promotes focus and focus. The connection between the sides of the body allows energy to flow easily between them.
Anjali mudra and meditation
Anjali mudra and meditation
Meditation is beneficial in many ways. Yoga and meditation share a deep connection that stems from yoga’s roots as a spiritual and mystical practice. Now meditation is mainly used to relax, but it is also a way to dig yourself. Anjali Mudra is an easy way to deepen your meditation practice.
One of the downsides of modern life is that we are always busy. Our minds are cluttered, always thinking about the next thing on our to-do list. Of course, meditation helps to slow the mind down, but sometimes it’s hard to quiet the mind and meditate! This is where Anjali Mudra can help. If you need help with grounding and focusing, try doing Anjali Mudra during your next meditation.
Combining Anjali Mudra with meditation can help you focus and quiet the chatter in your head. Once the mind is still, you can look a little deeper. Place your hands on your heart center to open the heart chakra and energy flow through your body.
This can have a positive effect on your emotional state. Even when practiced or meditated alone, Anjali Mudra can induce love and gratitude. Mudras can even bring a sense of harmony and calm to your body.
Anjali Mudra and the Heart Chakra
The chakras are the seven energy centers of the body, located in the center of the body from the pelvis to the top of the head. The fourth chakra, the heart chakra, is located in the center of the chest. On a physical level, the heart chakra is connected to the heart, thymus, lungs and breasts. The thymus is located behind the sternum,