The Yoga Training Teacher

BACK MUDRA

2008-09-03T02:45:00.004-07:00

Right hand: The thumb, middle finger, and little finger are touching; the index finger and ring finger are extended.

Left hand: Place your thumb joint on the nail of the index finger. Do four times a day for 4 minutes or, against acute complaints, until it has an effect.
This mudra is primarily effective when someone with a weak back has engaged in an activity (for example: garden work or cleaning) that has strained the back too much
and caused painful tensions, or when someone has sat too long in the wrong position. Backaches can have a great variety of causes. Most people have waste deposits and signs of wear, but these don't necessarily have to be painful. A diseased organ
whose nerves run through the spinal column can also cause pain.
Continuous mental strain, fears, meals that are too heavy, too little sleep,
and/or too little exercise are other causes of pain.
This mudra can be even more effective in a position that relieves the
back . When doing so, keep the chin pulled in
a bit so that the neck is stretched. This little bit of tension has an effect
down to the small of the back. After just 20 minutes in this position, the intervertebral disks are optimally nourished once again and the metabolism operates in full swing again. Perhaps you can even do this exercise during your lunch break at the office. Then you can get through the entire day without pain. What you think while you do this is also very important, which is why the image and the affirmation are particularly significant in this position.

The Yoga training Teacher

APAN VAYU MUDRA - First Aid for heart Attacks

2008-09-03T02:45:00.003-07:00

Bend your index finger and let its tip touch the ball of your thumb. At the same time, the tips of the middle and ring fingers touch the tip of your thumb. Extend your little finger.
Do this with each hand. Use as needed until you feel the effect, or practice three times a day for 15 minutes as a course of treatment. This finger position can have a first-aid function when you use it at the first sign of a heart attack, according to Keshav Dev. It regulates many heart complications. In an emergency, it can even have a quicker effect
than placing nitroglycerin (the most frequently used immediate remedy) under the tongue.
Heart attacks, as well as chronic heart complaints, don't just come out of the blue. Instead, they are an indication that a person's lifestyle must be rethought and planned differently. (The Ornish Program has been very successful in this respect.11) This mudra can also be used for the general healing and strengthening of the heart. Heart patients are often so tied up with obligations that they no longer perceive what appears to be "senseless" from the outside. They have no time to relax. They also have a hard time coping with stillness.
something always has to be going on, and they often give so much support
to something or someone at work or during their leisure time there
is no room for their own needs. Yet, it is precisely these quiet moments
that are the ones to nourish our souls. Permit yourself some time for the
rosebud image—even if you barely have any to spare. Perhaps you can listen
to some music—music that brings you a feeling of lightness—while you do so.

BHUDI MUDRA of the Fluid

2008-09-03T02:45:00.001-07:00

Place the tip of your thumb and little finger together; extend the other fingers in a
relaxed way. Do this with each hand.
Do as needed, or practice three times a day for 15 minutes as a course of treatment.
More than half our body weight consists of fluids. The Bhudi Mudra helps restore or maintain equilibrium in the fluid balance. It can be used against a dry mouth, eyes that are too dry and burning, or disorders in the kidney and bladder area. It also improves the sense of taste.

HERBAL REMEDY: Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi L.) heals inflammation
of the bladder, and goldenrod (Solidasgo virgaurea L.) is effective
against pyelitis.

Even physicians have greatly varying opinions when it comes to how much
a person should drink every day. It certainly isn't good to drink too little,
but we also don't feel well when we drink too much (even if it is just water).
I feel good when I drink about 1 to 1.5 quarts of liquid every day. For some
time now, I have been drinking water in a way that is connected to a ritual
and this has been particularly good for me. My ritual is as follows:
First (blessing water): According to ancient custom, water used for a specific
purpose had a spell cast on it, or was blessed. More recent research has discovered that water can actually absorb and store the energy of thoughts
and words.
Second (charging water): Water can be either weakly or intensely charged
with energy. It depends on the movement that arises when it flows. In a
natural stream, where the water is guided from side to side by the stones
(and not straight ahead as in a pipe), the energy level is considerably higher.
This is why I always stir the water in a glass in the form of an eight for
a while.
Third (linking water to the Divine) and probably most important: I consciously connect myself with the Divine, and take in its element with reverence and gratitude. Before I drink the water, I take the glass in both hands in front of my chest, speak my affirmation, and then remain in silence for a few moments. If you drink tap water, please inquire locally about the quality of your water.

Varuna Mudra

2008-08-31T22:25:00.000-07:00

Bend the little finger of your right hand until the tip touches the ball of your right thumb; place the thumb of your right hand on it. Press the little finger and thumb slightly with your left thumb. At the same time, your left hand encircles the right hand lightly from below.
Do as needed, or practice three times a day for 45 minutes. Keshav Dev says that the Varuna Mudra should always be done when too much mucus or secretion collects
in the stomach or lungs. Congestion can settle in the frontal sinuses, lungs,
and the entire digestive tract from the stomach to the large intestine. Most
allergic reactions are ultimately mucous congestion triggered by specific
irritating substances. When we catch a cold, we are usually in a rut in other
ways as well. I find this to be 100 percent true for myself. Since I have recognized
this fact, I can also do something to relieve the situation (I reduce
my workload and my obligations). Mucous congestion, no matter where it
occurs in the body, is always related to overstimulated nerves, inner tensions
and unrest, triggered by overstraining, being pressed for time, being aggravated,
or experiencing fear.
In addition to practicing the Varuna Mudra, it is always important to make a new life plan. Including other people in it is usually good! Perhaps you should rethink your tasks and obligations and reassign some of them to you partner, your child, and/or your parents. People who suffer from mucous congestion are often too conscious of responsibility and think that everything depends on them or that they must do everything alone.

Prithvi Mudra

2008-08-31T22:24:00.001-07:00

Place the tips of the thumb and ring finger on top of each other, using light pressure. Extend the other fingers. Do this with each hand. Do as needed, or use three times a day for 15 minutes.

The Prithivi Mudra can eliminate an energy deficit in the root
chakra. Whether or not you feel psychologically or physically strong and vital is largely dependent upon this energy. This finger position also intensifies the sense of smell and is good for the nails, skin, hair, and bones. If you feel uncertain of your steps while walking, the Prithivi Mudra can restore your equilibrium and trust. This mudra also activates the root chakra, in which our elemental force resides. We can compare this chakra to the grafting knot of a rose. The potential for the appearance and nature
of the plant is found here; the roots sprout into the ground from this point
to give the plant stability and absorb the nutrients. The stem and leaves
grow upward from this point to connect with the light, to blossom and
bear fruit. Without reservation, this image can be applied to human beings
as well. We also need stability and nourishment to grow and be effective in
our place in the world. The purpose of our lives is to connect with the Divine, which means we must also orient ourselves toward the light and open up like a flower that is being pollinated. For us, this may mean experiencing grace. So this mudra can give us everything that we need for a meaningful life. I use it when I feel insecure and need inner stability and self-assurance. Moreover, it stimulates the body temperature, the liver, and the stomach.

Shunya Mudra

2008-08-31T22:21:00.000-07:00

Bend the middle finger until it touches the ball of your thumb. Lightly press down on
the middle finger with your thumb. The other fingers are extended. Do this with each hand. Do as needed, or use three times daily for 15 minutes as a course of treatment.
This is a special exercise against ear and hearing problems. The Shunya Mudra can also quickly heal earaches (and almost all diseases of the ear) when used for a longer period of time, according to Keshav Dev.

Hearing problems are related to a person who is no longer able to hear or who even doesn't want to hear. This can be a blessing or a catastrophe. Poor hearing can protect us from unpleasant things or even from disagreeable sounds or information that
find their way into us. On the other hand, we can also no longer hear beautiful
things. Not wanting to hear is sometimes based on a particular kind of stubbornness that can lead to disaster. Consequently, if we are willing to scrutinize the reason for our hearing problems, this can lead us one step further toward a richer life.

The middle finger is associated with the sky (ether). This is the gateway
to the higher dimensions—the gateway to Heaven. The ancient myths
say, if we want to get to Heaven, we first need to be thoroughly purified. This is why it may be appropriate to "look within" and make amends for old offenses. I know that it can sometimes be very difficult to forgive another person; but I also know that forgiveness truly opens up new gateways - gateways that lead into the light and into a lightness of the life ahead of us. It is as if we have thrown off our old burdens and then continued happily on our path.

Vayu Mudra of Wind

2008-08-31T22:19:00.001-07:00

With each hand bend the index finger so that its tip touches the ball of the thumb.
Then press the thumb lightly onto the index finger. Extend the other fingers in a
relaxed way.

For chronic complaints, do this mudra three times daily for 15 minutes; otherwise, use it until it has an effect. This position prevents "wind" (meaning flatulence), and a sensation of fullness, in all parts of the body. Ayurvedic medicine assumes that there are 51 types of wind in the body that produce numerous disorders.

These include gout, sciatica, flatulence, rheumatism, and trembling in the
hands, throat, and head. If you use the Vayu Mudra within 24 hours after an
outbreak of a disorder or disease caused by wind, you can very quickly count
on improvement. For chronic complaints, the Pran Mudra (Number 6) on
page 70 should be practiced. The Vayu Mudra must be discontinued as soon
as the disease disappears.
Too much wind in the body can be caused by inner waste substances,
particularly in the intestines, or inner tensions that are in turn based on
states of agitation. Frequently, the normal breathing rhythm (which is different
for each individual) is also disrupted.
As an additional measure, the "stomach contractor" can also be practiced.
To do this, assume the "cat posture." Inhale and lift your head some what; exhale and lower your head again while vigorously pulling in the abdominal wall at the same time.
During the pause in breathing, pull in the abdominal wall and let go of it several
times. Then inhale deeply again; raise your head again. Repeat the whole exercise a
number of times. In addition, the following visualization can help against tensions and
states of agitation.

Surabhi Mudra of COW

2008-08-30T00:51:00.000-07:00

The little finger of your left hand touches the ring finger of your right hand. The little finger of your right hand touches the ring finger of your left hand. At the same time, the middle fingers of both hands touch the index fingers of the other. The thumbs remain extended. Do three times a day for 15 minutes.

The Surabhi Mudra is very effective against rheumatism and arthrosis. Since these diseases are usually chronic, or at least have existed within the person long before any outbreak or pain is perceived, this mudra must also be practiced for a longer period of time.

At first, mainly concentrate on your exhalation and imagine how a dark cloud leaves your body each time you exhale. This cloud contains your spent energy, all the waste substances, and every pain. Most importantly, it also contains all your negative thoughts and feelings.
After about 20 breaths, also pay attention to your inhalation, and imagine each time that you are absorbing light, which makes your entire body shine. Gradually let the cloud that you exhale become lighter and lighter. In conclusion, let yourself be filled with the brightest light and surrounded by a cloak of light that radiates far out into your environment.

Affirmation
Purifying light fills me and burns away everything that oppresses and
hurts me. From the bottom of my heart, I seek cleanliness in my body,
clarity in my mind, and purity in my soul.

The yoga training Teacher

Shankh Mudra of shell

2008-08-30T00:49:00.000-07:00

Training teacher - Yoga

Encircle the your thumb with the four fingers of your right hand. At the same time, touch the right thumb to the extended middle finger of your left hand. Together, the two hands look
like a conch shell. Hold your hands in front of your sternum. Do this as often and as long as
you want. Or use it three times daily for 15 minutes as a course of treatment. When you want to practice this mudra, you can first sing "OM" several times. Then listen within yourself, to
the silence, for several minutes afterward. This mudra is used during rituals in many Hindu temples. There, the conch horn is blown in the morning to announce the opening of the
temple doors. The same applies to our inner temple, in which the divine light shines—it should also be opened.

The Shell or Shankh Mudra drives away every kind of problem in the throat. If you practice it regularly, especially if you sing "OM" as you do it, you can improve your voice. It also has a very calming effect and leads to collection in silence.

Apan Mudra - mudra of Energy

2008-08-30T00:45:00.000-07:00

With each hand: Place the thumb, middle finger, and ring finger together—extend
the other fingers. When needed, do for 5 to 45 minutes or use three times a
day for 15 minutes as a course of treatment.
This mudra supports the removal of waste materials and toxins from the body, as well as eliminating urinary problems, according to Keshav Dev. The Apan Mudra also stimulates the wood element, which is associated with the energy of the liver and gallbladder .
This element also contains the power and pleasure of springtime, of new beginnings,
of tackling and shaping visions of the future.
In addition, the Apan Mudra has a balancing effect on the mind, which is largely dependent upon a well-functioning liver. It gives us patience, serenity, confidence, inner balance, and harmony. In the mental realm, it creates the ability to develop vision. You need all of this when you look into the future, while facing new challenges, and if your wishes are to
be fulfilled.

Linga Mudra

2008-08-30T00:35:00.000-07:00

Upright Mudra or Linga Mudra - The yoga training teacher

Place both palms together and clasp your fingers. One thumb should remain upright; encircle it
with the thumb and index finger of your other hand. Do as needed or three times a
day for 15 minutes. This finger position increases the powers of resistance against coughs, colds, and chest infections. It also loosens mucus that has collected in the lungs. In addition, it is very useful for people who suffer from respiratory complaints when the weather changes. It also increases the body temperature and is particularly suited for people who don't develop a fever that is high enough. Fever is important because many bacteria within the body can only be killed when it reaches a certain temperature. The Linga Mudra can, according to Keshav Dev, also help reduce weight. However, for this purpose it must be done with particular care
three times a day for 15 minutes. Also drink at least 8 glasses of water a day, and mainly eat cooling foods, such as yogurt, rice, bananas, and citrus fruits. If the Linga Mudra is done too long, a feeling of sluggishness and lethargy may occur. This is a sign that you should shorten the length of this exercise and consume more cooling foods and drinks. In order to stimulate your immune system and increase body temperature, you can practice the following exercise before doing the Linga Mudra. It is appropriately called "Throwing the Illness Behind You."

Then rio the Linga Mudra while sitting or lying down until you feel very hot.
Basic position: Stand up; legs are slightly spread, knees bent somewhat, and hands are in front of the chest. Inhalation: Throw your arms behind you, turn your head to the right, and look over your shoulder. Exhalation: Return your hands to your chest and turn your head to the front.

Repeat at least ten times.

Imagine a fire within your body that burns the bacteria, waste, and
unnecessary ballast.

Pran Mudra

2008-08-29T11:42:00.000-07:00

With each hand: Place the tips of the thumb, ring finger, and little finger together. The
other fingers remain extended. As needed, use for 5 to 30 minutes. Or, as a course of
treatment, do three times a day for 15 minutes.
The Pran Mudra activates the root chakra , in which the elemental force of a human being is found. I like to compare this place with a fire that is either ablaze or just glows quietly. How brightly
the fire burns depends on how well we tend it. This finger position stimulates
the nourishing energy in the pelvic floor. The Pran Mudra generally increases vitality, reduces fatigue and nervousness, and improves vision. It is also used against eye diseases. On the
mental-emotional level, it increases our staying power and assertiveness, healthy self-confidence, gives us the courage to start something new, and the strength to see things through. Clear eyes are also a sign of a mental outlook emphasizing clarity and a clear mind, which means clearly structured thoughts and ideas.

According to Kim da Silva, when you do the Pran Mudra you can also put your thumb onto the fingernails of the other two fingers instead of on their tips. This has the effect of causing both the right and left brain hemispheres to function equally, become active, and mutually complement each other, which is very important for holistic health.

Asthma Mudra

2008-08-29T11:23:00.001-07:00

Both hands: Press together the fingernails of the middle fingers and keep other fingers extended. In case of an acute asthma attack, first do the Bronchial Mudra (Number 4) for 4 to 6 minutes. Then use this Asthma Mudra until the breathing calms down. For long-term treatment, use these two mudras five times every day for 5 minutes.

Unfortunately, I am not one of those fortunate people who once had asthma but got rid of it through a radical cure with medication and never felt anything again. Many members of
my family on my father's side had asthma, so it is a "dear" family heirloom. But despite this, I live without any medication because I follow certain rules of behavior. My tips are sure to help asthma patients, which is why

I'm passing them on here:
During cold weather, never breathe through your mouth because the bronchial tubes will become inflamed and congested. Try not to be in a hurry because every incidence of stress activates the adrenal glands. Adrenaline promotes the congestion and constriction of the bronchial tubes. Eat a light diet with little meat; meat once a week is enough.
No milk products, tomatoes, hot peppers, or kiwi. No smoking should be obvious.
• Don't take medications that weaken the immune system, such
as antibiotics.
• Get enough fresh air by taking long walks. Do yoga or gymnastics
every week and get enough rest.
Most people who suffer from breathing difficulties are familiar with inner
loneliness (too much detachment from the surrounding world) and/or cannot
set boundaries. Consequently, they feel themselves plagued by other
people's duties and problems (too little detachment).

The Yoga training teacher

Bronchial Mudra - respiratory problems

2008-08-29T11:23:00.000-07:00

Both hands: Place the little finger at the base of the thumb, the ring finger on the upper thumb
joint, and the middle finger on the pad of the thumb. Extend the index finger. For an acute attack of asthma, first use this mudra from 4 to 6 minutes and then practice the Asthma Mudra (Number 5) until breathing has become normal again. For a long-term treatment, hold both
mudras for 5 minutes, five times a day.

People with respiratory problems often also suffer from inner loneliness, isolation, sexual problems, and sadness. To the outside world, these feelings are often successfully played down with humor. Or these individuals bind themselves to others by taking on their duties and concerns. This naturally causes a great deal of stress so that these individuals are pressed for time and out of breath. Since I am all too familiar with such problems, I can perhaps advise you how to get out of this dilemma. It is important to admit your negative feelings and moods for once and take a good look at them. Be aware that even these feelings are like waves on the surface of the water—they arise and then pass on. The reason for such feelings is often a
general weakness that is caused by shallow breathing since improper respiration
doesn't build up the inner reservoir of strength. When it is reduced, weakness occurs not only on the physical level but also in the mental-emotional area. Fear, sadness, discontentment, exaggerated sensitivity, etc., are the consequences.

Pushan Mudra

2008-08-26T05:25:00.004-07:00

Dedicated to the sun god, Pushan, also the god of nourishment

V E R S I O N 1:
Right hand: The tips of the thumb, index finger, and middle finger are on top of each other; the other fingers are extended. Left hand: The tips of the thumb, middle finger, and ring finger are on top of each other; the other fingers are extended. This mudra symbolizes accepting
and receiving with the gesture of one hand and letting things flow, giving, and letting go with the gesture of the other. Both should be coordinated with each other in digestion. It influences the energy currents that are responsible for absorbing and utilizing food, as well as helping with elimination. It intensifies breathing and therefore the absorption of oxygen and the release of carbon dioxide in the lungs. It has a relaxing effect on the solar plexus (the area of the stomach, liver, spleen, and gallbladder), regulates energies in the autonomic nervous system, mobilizes
energies of elimination, and detoxifies. It has an excellent effect on general or acute nausea, seasickness, flatulence, and that sensation of fullness one feels after meals.

V E R S I O N 2:
Right hand: The tips of the thumb, ring finger, and little finger are on top 0f each other, the other fingers are extended. Left hand: Same as Version 1. Connecting the energies of the thumb,
ring finger, and little finger activates the lower digestive process and the elimination process. This mudra can be called the general energy pump. It stimulates the functions of the brain, a fact that has also been proved scientifically. The finger position of the right hand activates energy in the pelvic floor, like a smoldering fire that has been stoked. With the finger position of the left hand, the kindled energy is directed upward. Every organ, the general good, and thinking (concentration, memory, logic, enthusiasm, etc.) are positively influenced as a result.
These two mudras can be used as immediate help or practiced four times a day for 5 minutes in the case of chronic complaints.

During inhalation, take in energy in the form of light. During the
pause in breathing, give it the time and space it needs to spread within
you and become transformed. During exhalation, let the expended
energy flow back out of you. With every breath, there is more light
and clarity in your physical and mental-emotional realms.

Ushas Mudra

2008-08-26T05:25:00.003-07:00

Break of day—origin of all good things

Clasp your fingers so your right thumb lies above the left. The right thumb presses slightly on
the left thumb. Important: Women should place the right thumb between the
left thumb and index finger, pressing on it with the left thumb. Do this every day for 5 to 15 minutes. Hold this mudra until the desired effect occurs. No matter how old we are, there are times of change: new beginnings come repeatedly in life. The second chakra, our center of sexuality and creativity, always contains something new, a secret that wants to be aired. This mudra concentrates the sexual energy of our second chakra and directs it into the energy centers above it. It gives us mental alertness, pleasure, and new impulses. In addition, it harmonizes our hormonal system. The Ushas Mudra helps us wake up in the morning. When you are still sleepy and lying in bed, place your clasped hands at the back of your head. Now inhale vigorously and deeply several times; open your eyes and mouth widely; press your elbows back into the pillow. While exhaling, let go of every tension. Repeat 6 times. If this still doesn't make you feel alert and fresh, then rub your ankle bones together, as well as the palms of your hands, as if you were trying to ignite a flintstone. Finally, you can also extend your arms and stretch vigorously.

In your imagination, see yourself sitting in a good place where you can
enjoy the sunrise. The sun slowly rises, and you let the colors red,
orange, and yellow have their effect on you for a long time. These colors
awaken and improve your mood. Now imagine yourself as a person
who is full of youthful strength and new impulses, as someone
who enjoys life, a person who goes out into the world with love, and
richly blesses it with a sincere smile, good deeds, and beautiful things.

Ganesh Mudra

2008-08-26T05:25:00.002-07:00

The elephant; Ganesha, the deity who overcomes all obstacles

Method of practice:
Hold your left hand in front of your chest with the palm facing outward. Bend the fingers.
Now grasp the left hand with the right hand, which has its back facing outward. Move the hands to the level of the heart, right in front of the chest. While exhaling, vigorously pull the hands apart without releasing the grip. This will tense the muscles of the upper arms and chest area. While inhaling, let go of all the tension. Repeat 6 times and then lovingly place both hands on the sternum in this position. Focus on the feeling in this part of your body. Then change the hand position: your right palm now faces outward. Repeat the exercise 6 times in this position. Afterward, remain in silence for a while. Once a day is enough.

VARIATION: Repeat the same exercise, but this time keep the lower arms diagonal instead of horizontal: one elbow points upward at a slant and the other elbow points downward at a slant.
This mudra stimulates heart activity, strengthens heart muscles, opens the bronchial tubes, and releases any type of tension in this area. It opens the fourth chakra and gives us courage, confidence, and openness toward other human beings.

Since the Ganesha Mudra activates the fire element which reacts positively to the color red, the following visualizations support activity of the heart and circulation. It encourages us to encounter our fellow human beings with an open and friendly heart.

Visualize the color red—a mosaic, a mandala, or a carpet in various tones of red. Now focus all of your senses on it for a while. Red should strengthen, warm, and widen your heart, giving you the courage to be open and confident.

Meditations for each finger from Yoga

2008-08-25T10:07:00.000-07:00

The following meditations can be done during the sleepless hours of a long night or an illness. It demands nothing more of the body than lovingly embracing one finger with the fingers of the other hand.

Meditation 5: Little Finger Energy

2008-08-25T10:03:00.002-07:00

The second chakra, which is the energetic center of sexuality, is associated
with the little finger. It deals with interpersonal relationships in general, as
well as partnership in particular. This classification of sexuality corresponds
with Hatha Yoga. (In Buddhism, sexuality is associated with the
ring finger.) It also contains the ability to communicate. Since the Chinese
healing practitioners found the heart meridian to be in this finger, this confirms
the yogis' thesis relating the water element to it (water symbolizes the
realm of the emotions). Joyful, fulfilling relationships not only warm the
heart, but also nourish and strengthen it. And, in turn, strong heart energy
gives us the ability to be happy. It gives us sublime feelings and improves
our mood. Our mood, which is always the sum of present feelings, can be
compared with the waves on the surface of a lake. They are rhythmically
harmonious or vehement; the water is clear and clean, or shallow, heavy,
dark and dirty.

Sit or lie down. Now encircle your left little finger with the four fingers of
your right hand, with your right thumb extending to the middle of your
left hand. Close your eyes.
In your mind's eye, you are sitting by the sea and observing the
waves—they come toward you, and roll back out and disappear.
The same applies to your feelings, moods, and also to your relationships
with others. Giving and receiving love is also subject to this
law. Be aware that you only receive as much love as you can unconditionally
give. This doesn't even have to mean great deeds. A
friendly, warm heart for fellow human beings, animals, plants,
water, air, and earth are entirely enough. Imagine someone (someone
specific or in general) happy and encourage him or her, if necessary.
Believe in this individual's abilities and good heart. Imagine
entire scenes in which this person is cheerful and smiling happily. If
you have no one close to you, then do this little exercise—perhaps
while riding the bus, train, or streetcar—in relation to a stranger. I
guarantee that you will experience wonders if you keep this up for
several days or weeks. The time will come when your heart will
overflow with joy. But the most important thing is: don't expect
anything at all for the time being. Radiate your goodwill and your
love unconditionally. Just have some patience until the seeds sprout.
Continue holding your little finger for a while and feel the flowing
warmth. Then encircle your right little finger and hold it for the same
amount of time.

Meditation 4: Ring Finger Energy

2008-08-25T10:03:00.001-07:00

The ring finger is associated with Apollo, the sun god, and the root chakra,
which rules the pelvic floor. This force gives stamina, staying power, and
the power to be assertive. The Chinese have classified this finger with the
deep meridian of the liver. The power of the liver gives a person patience,
serenity, hope, and vision for the future. The "triple warmer" also begins
in the tip of the ring finger. This meridian rules all protective functions in
the body and is responsible for body temperature, which in turn regulates
cell function. If it works in an optimal manner, it gives the ability to maintain
our equilibrium in stressful situations, which is also the precondition
for a well-functioning immune system. The force that dominates this finger
provides stability, is penetrating, and strives upward.

Exercise
Sit or lie down. Now encircle your left ring finger with the four fingers of
your right hand, with the right thumb extending to the middle of your left
hand. Close your eyes.
Imagine bare earth and crushed rock in all its forms—as deserts,
mountains, and islands. What happens when masses of earth begin
to move? When the earth dries out? When the earth is completely
exposed to the sun? Now imagine fertile earth. Slowly let the vegetation
be created—little plants, big plants, much green. Now focus
on one single seed resting deep within the earth. With every breath,
something moves inside until the seed bursts and a shoot stretches in the direction of the light. At the same time, it sprouts roots deep into
the earth. It becomes a tree that grows very slowly. You wait
patiently and watch how the plant develops into its full size. Time
has no significance. Only the constant growth counts. The tree
blooms anew every year, and bears fruit. Like the tree, we also do
not know why this is. Like the tree, we want to give ourselves completely
to life, and know this has its purpose, even if we will probably
never be able to completely fathom the great mystery. As the tree
changes every year, our inner development also continues. We decisively
influence whether it is joyful or sorrowful.
Keep holding your finger for a while and feel the flowing warmth. Then
encircle your right ring finger and hold it for the same amount of time.

Meditation 3: Middle Finger Energy

2008-08-25T10:01:00.000-07:00

Hindus call this finger the heavenly finger and classify it with the throat
chakra. Take a look at it. It is the longest finger, and towers over the others.
Its energy radiates far into infinity. It could also be considered the stairway
to Heaven. Saturn, which is classified with it, is located toward the
edge of our solar system and is also called the "keeper of the threshold."
We are held accountable for our lives at the gates of Heaven. We also find
this symbolism in the throat chakra, the gateway of purity, which only nens when the student is pure in spirit and in heart. However, in order to
ogress on our spiritual path, we must first fulfill our duties on Earth.
This is indicated by its inherent meridians: the circulation meridian and
the deep meridian of the gallbladder. Both help us seize and master the
challenges of life. Drive, activity, risk, and the joy of taking action are their
dualities. The spectrum of the middle-finger energy ranges from an active
life to spheres far into the world beyond. It could be briefly summarized
with the following saying, "God helps those who help themselves."
Exercise
Sit or lie down. Now encircle your right middle finger with the four fingers
of your left hand. The left thumb extends to the middle of your right
hand. Close your eyes.
Imagine yourself doing what you like to do most. Make full use of
your inclinations and talents as you master all the obstacles placed
in your path, and enjoy your activities. You are successful at what
you do and mentally envision what your success looks like. What
you do enriches the world (your family, individual human beings,
or the entire world). Extensively imagine the constant contact with
the divine forces that help you and show you the way.
If your occupation does not satisfy you and if you have no leisure
activities or interests that suit you, then it is time to ask within, to
press your inner wisdom until you receive an answer. At the same
time, also askfor the initiative, which the middle finger symbolizes,
to actually tackle the matter at hand. And, above all, request help
from the divine powers—enter into a close, trusting partnership
with them.
Keep holding your finger in silence for a while and feel the warmth flowing into you. Then encircle your left middle finger and hold it for a while.
These hand positions also have an excellent effect on tension in the neck.

Meditation 2: Index Finger Energy

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The heart chakra, the large intestine, and the deep meridian of the stomach
are associated with this finger. Here we also find the "sure" instinct,
having "a good nose," the ability to reflect, and inspiration. This energy
goes to our innermost core and back to the cosmos from there. We can also
draw on our innermost being (intuition) and receive from the cosmos
(inspiration). This finger includes both closeness and expansiveness. How
much closeness can we stand?
The air element represents the mind—the power of thought.
Thoughts are as invisible as the air and yet, as the yogis have discovered,
they are the cause of all the actions that we take or refrain from taking, of
everything that we reject and attract, for our health and for every mood,
and for the entire design of our life. The planetary power of Jupiter is also
associated with this finger, and indicates the eternal change of things—
accepting life with all its facets, working through (digesting), and letting
go again.
There is also a clear, purposeful look into the future in this finger.
Since our thoughts are so important, we should consider their quality more
frequently. If we do the following meditation several days in a row, we will
notice that there is a certain habit in our thoughts. Habits can be changed
as soon as we become aware of them, but changes always require a certain
amount of time. If we continuously replace harmful thoughts with useful
ones, we can also change the circumstances of life accordingly.

Meditation 1: Thumb Energy

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The fire element, the lung meridian, and Mars (the planet and/or ancient
god of war) are associated with the thumb. The fire of the thumb nourishes
the energy of the other fingers and absorbs excess energy. It thereby
restores equilibrium. When we think about the incineration of garbage,
we sense that destruction through fire can also have a power that creates
order. Even in nature, when during the course of the decades a monoculture
of the strongest has been created, the forest fire once again creates the
preconditions for a larger variety of new plants. The overheating within
our bodies, the fever, kills entire cultures of bacteria. Fire is dependent
upon air since it dies without oxygen; the same also applies to our cell respiration.
The metabolism in the individual cells can only properly function
with adequate oxygen. We can actually strengthen every part of the
body or every organ by visualizing and/or breathing light and warmth
into it.

Exercise
Either sit or lie down. Now encircle your right thumb with the four fingers
of your left hand and place your left thumb along the inner edge of
your right hand. Close your eyes.
Focus on a part of the body that is weak or ill. Now imagine that a
light is burning in the lower center of your body (at the height of the
navel). Every time you exhale, direct the rays of light toward the
respective part of the body. First let large, dark clouds of smoke
(things that make you ill, pain, etc.) escape from the illuminated
body part. Then concentrate solely on the light that slowly fills, illuminates,
and heals this part of the body.
Calmly keep holding onto your thumb for a while and feel the flowing
warmth. Then encircle your left thumb and also hold this for a while.

Meditations for each Finger

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The following meditations will help you consciously experience your individual fingers and the strength within them. You will become acquainted with your fingers, learning to trust and love them. The positive experiences that I have had confirm that the classification of chakra energy with each of the fingers is accurate. It meaningfully
complements the meridian system. Your conscious and constructive thoughts are also useful.

here. As already mentioned, thoughts and feelings influence every body
function. What you "set your heart on" and "talk yourself into" will manifest
itself within a foreseeable amount of time.
Hindu healing practitioners already discovered long ago that too
much or too little of an element (earth, water, air, fire, and ether) causes the
body to become imbalanced or even seriously ill. See page 30 for more information
on this topic. We can restore the harmony within us through the
corresponding images. Just as every element can have a positive influence
on us, it can also destroy us. The individual elements naturally influence
each other. Every element has special needs that can be easily satisfied in a
balanced and calm dynamic state. But how often are we stressed, rest and
exercise too little, eat too much, or let ourselves be plagued by worries? All
or this throws us off balance. When the body is no longer capable of attaining
harmony, we are out of balance and we become susceptible to disease.

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Mudras for Connecting with the Divine

2008-08-25T05:02:00.000-07:00

Have you ever read that a person will be asked at Heaven's gate if he or she has prayed or meditated enough while on Earth? Definitely not. It doesn't matter how often we sit or kneel and meditate, but rather how and whether we have lived a fulfilled life and expressed the will of cosmic consciousness through what we have done and not done. Our task in life consists of doingour best and leaving the works up to the Divine before and after their completion.
The supreme rule of all great religious communities has always
been, "Pray and work." We don't have to join an order to do this; we can
also do it alone.
Mudras 19, 40, 42, 43 ,44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, and 52 help us find
repose and also lead us to inner peace, contentment, and joy. In turn, we
should let peace and joy flow into our words and works, carrying them out
into the world.

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Mudras for Planning the Future

2008-08-25T05:00:00.000-07:00

How many people are afraid of the future, afraid of losing their jobs, of
getting old, of all the possible diseases? I once asked a large group about
fear of the future. Everyone was surprised about the variety of fears that
came to light. The human imagination knows no boundaries here! Some
people had fears that seemed totally unimaginable to the others. Everyone
agreed at the conclusion—there is hardly a human being who takes a
"realistic" look at the future.
Why not fundamentally get rid of unnecessary fears right now!
Meditation can be used as a way to visualize images of the future, to plan
short-term and long-term goals. Most people do this unconsciously anyway,
but we can consciously plan a future that we find suitable, enjoyable,
and meaningful. Most of my inner plans have become outer reality within twelve years. Some of them are still open, and I know that these will also be fulfilled at the right time. Incidentally, I have made an interesting discovery. People usually die in the way that they imagine they will. Mudras 2, 8, 16, 18, 24, 32, and 42 are suitable for helping to plan your future
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Meditation Mudras for Building Character

2008-08-25T04:59:00.000-07:00

We all have character traits that make life difficult or uncomfortable for us
(exaggerated fearfulness, being overly critical, feelings of guilt, addictive
behavior, inferiority complexes, nervousness, pessimism, etc.). Meditation
is a wonderful way to transform or even completely reverse them. The best
approach is to just deal with one at a time. If we are successful in changing
just one single character trait a year, then how will we be in ten years? We
shouldn't fight against a character trait that we want to get rid of; instead,
we should scrutinize it and even recognize its good aspects. This is the only
way that we can let go of it.
First ask yourself where this unattractive trait comes from, how it
developed, what is good about it (there is something good in everything).
Each uncomfortable trait can show you the way to something better.
Unfortunately, you can also be defeated because of one. Or you can become
stronger. Then get a very detailed, clear image of the benefits of changing
the character trait into its opposite. Now you can decide whether to live
with it in peace, by placing limitations on it, or get rid of it by imagining
situations in which you live with the opposite trait (for example, courage
instead of fear). Your inner images will gradually move into the outside
world and become your outer reality.
We can include all these considerations in meditation (Mudras 13, 22,
23, 24, 30, and 38). Then we will experience true wonders.

Mudras for Solving Everyday Problems

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Yoga Mudras for solving everyday problems.
Common sense tells us that every problem contains its own solution. It is
part of human nature to be repeatedly faced with challenges, situations,
and problems that demand a solution. This keeps us alert, sharpens our
senses, and challenges our rational mind. In the silence of meditation we
can go into our depths and come into contact with the Highest. Here we
can ask, and the right answer always comes in the right way through
another person, a book, a voice on the radio, a feeling, or in some other
way, and at the right time. I could tell you lots interesting stories on this theme that I learned while seeking the wisdom of the mudras. This is
almost a wonder! My husband recently remarked, "You are either the
luckiest person on Earth or a witch!" But, obviously, neither of these are
true. I have attained a good portion of confidence and trust in the cosmic
forces because of all my experiences—that is my luck today. But it wasn't
always that way!
When making decisions, whether they are small or large, never forget
to make use of meditation. And if there is something that you absolutely
want to have, but don't receive it (when an apartment or a job gets taken
away from under your nose, etc.), then there is certain to be something better
waiting for you.
The following mudras are particularly suited for solving everyday
problems: 14, 16, 18, 31, 42, 50, and 51.

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Yoga Mudras for Improving Relationships

2008-08-25T04:56:00.001-07:00

Our fellow human beings are our mirror! What we particularly like in others
is what we also love within ourselves. What we don't like about others,
we also reject within ourselves. We will encounter the same people over and
over until we have learned this lesson. When we are ready, the people in our
lives will change accordingly, or will disappear from our environment, and others will take their place. This may sound hard, but it is unfortunately
true. Isn't it true that other people frequently live out what we don't permit
ourselves to do? Some people annoy us with their behavior. Perhaps they
are premature in their judgments, verbally attack others, are hurtful in
their thoughtlessness, don't really listen, make us nervous with their restlessness,
think they know it all better, are mistrusting—the list is almost
endless. How do we act and react? For quite some time now, I have been
trying to decode the messages conveyed to me through other people for
myself. How am I? How do I behave? What impression do I make on others?
In doing this, I get to know myself better and have the opportunity to
change. Sometimes we are afraid of other people and their reactions, which
is why we let ourselves be manipulated and exploited. Or, by being on
"good behavior" and serving others, we want to make them love us.
Mudras 1, 12, 14, 45, and 47 can bring clarity into our relationships,
take away fear, and support the work of forgiveness. However, at this
point I would like to ask a great favor of you. If, with all of this selfcontemplation,
you notice how you still do things "wrong" time and time
again, love yourself and pamper yourself. And, in particular, laugh about
yourself instead of criticizing and scolding. There is always the next time
to try and "do things right." I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

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Mudras for Coming to Terms with the Past

2008-08-25T04:55:00.001-07:00

If we want contentment and peace in our everyday lives, there is no way to avoid clearing out what has burdened us in the past. This doesn't mean looking at the past over and over—but the opposite. We can free ourselves from old resentments, anger, prejudices, feelings of guilt—from everything that weighs on us. The best means to achieve this is forgiveness— forgiving the other person and forgiving yourself. But perhaps we cannot do this alone. Then we can ask our inner wisdom, our higher self, or the
Divine within us, for help. Forgiveness, according to Jesus and founders of
other great religions, is the most difficult thing, but the best path to finding
inner peace. Even if we can just manage to forgive a little, and in time
to forgive a little more, then the gateway to a new, light-filled future will
open for us. We have only truly forgiven our fellow human beings and
ourselves when we can imagine them to be happy and wish them all good
things and much love from the depths of our hearts. We must often go
through a great deal of pain to achieve this goal.

Mudras 12, 32, 42, and 47 can help accelerate this process of working
through and dissolving old feelings.

divine mudra powers

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Yoga mudras for Recharging Energy Reserves

2008-08-25T04:52:00.000-07:00

Whenever you feel listless, tired, or even a bit depressed, many of the mudras can do true wonders. On the one hand, this is true because youpermit yourself the well-deserved rest you need and, on the other hand, energy is built up in a very concrete way (which can even be measured).
The following mudras have an especially stimulating and restorative
effect: 2, 3, 4, 6, 13, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29, 31,35, 36, and 39.

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Yoga Mudras and Meditation

2008-08-25T04:51:00.001-07:00

Just like Christian prayer expresses itself through words and corresponding gestures, the Eastern religions also use gestures, Yoga training teachers use mudras, to support the prayer. The meaning and purpose of meditation are also supported by the mudras. In this respect, the Hindus have developed a very differentiated and complete system. In fact, it is so complicated and elaborate that many believers can no longer cope with it and require the help of a priest.

Meditation, as I understand and practice it, has become an indispensable aid in my life. I use it at any time, and everywhere, for everything. As a result, I bring clarity, light, and lightness into my life. I recharge my inner batteries and solve my problems, make decisions, get advice and comfort, refine my character traits, mobilize my immune forces, develop visions for the future—and seek my connection with the Divine. We can
use meditation for everything, which includes dissolving anything that bothers, burdens, or annoys us, as well as achieving inner and outer wealth—and naturally also for achieving our spiritual goals. Let's make full use of these possibilities!

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my personal experience - Yoga Mudras saved life

2008-08-25T04:43:00.000-07:00

For many years, I have successfully used mudras to help me concentrate
better or to intensify my meditation. Don't ask me why, but I always felt my little finger games to be something quite intimate, and consequently omitted them from the curriculum of my courses. It probably wasn't the right time for them yet.
At a workshop for brain training several years ago, I became acquainted with Mudra Number 27 and immediately put it to use for a great many different occasions. If I lose the thread while speaking or writing, or if I want to remember something, I simply place the fingertips of both hands together. Then the sentence or word usually comes to mind. Mudra Number 42, the hands placed together in front of the chest, calms my thoughts and supports concentration. I was also able to counter physical complaints with mudras. One of the most wonderful experiences occurred when I had to lie down after returning from a very long hike. I was very tired and had met a number of people
on horseback (I react allergically to the smell of horses), as well as blossoming
trees, during the last three miles. This was enough to cause an asthma attack. I did Mudra Number 4, and after four minutes, my breathing wasback to normal. I also frequently use Mudra Number 5 when I notice that my chest has become constricted. Perhaps I should do a serious course of treatment at some point using this mudra. During the last flu attack, I often felt wretched. Mudra Number 3, the first version, helped me. Before I go on a long hike, I like to move my bowels, which is done easily if I have already done Mudra Number 23, followed immediately by Mudra 24, while still
resting in bed. Fellow hikers also report success with these mudras

In case of seasickness, or when generally suffering from flatulence
after too much fat at a meal, I use Mudra Number 3, the first version, with
much success. I find Mudra Number 2 to be great because it practically
throws me out of the bed in the morning. It is wonderfully refreshing and
counteracts sensations of dizziness.

After a long session of garden work that was followed by an annoying
backache, I recently had an interesting experience. I laid down on my
back, pulled my knees up to my chest, and did Mudra 17 to balance out the
energy in my back. After a few breaths, I felt wonderful and a pleasant
warmth flowed through the lumbar vertebral area into my back. I could
directly feel how the backache slowly dissolved. Our health and well-being
are greatly dependent upon an optimal flow of energy, and tension blocks
this energy flow.

Since I am basically a healthy person, it naturally hasn't been possible
for me to try out the effects of all of the mudras. However, many of my
yoga students and acquaintances have told me about improvement or even
the miraculous healing of some conditions. One woman thought that
mudras saved her husband's life one night when he woke up with vehement
heart pain. She attempted to contact a physician and placed his hands
into the form of Mudra 16 while waiting. The heart pain subsided, he fell
asleep exhausted, and it wasn't necessary for the physician on emergency
call to come immediately. In the morning, she took her husband to the doctor.
The diagnosis was that the man had suffered a severe heart attack during
the night

Publisher's Note: If you feel heart pain, please get to the emergency room in your hospital. Call
an ambulance; make sure you have emergency phone numbers available for quick reference in
case you need them. Doing the mudras while waiting for an ambulance is fine. The woman in
this story is very lucky that her husband lived through this experience! The mudra exercises do
not replace the care of a competent physician.

Palmistry and Yoga mudras

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Astrology and palmistry have always belonged together. If the practice of the mudras stimulates your interest in palmistry, you can find a large selection of literature on the topic. The mudras can actually strengthen the hands and the individual fingers, even changing character traits in the process. In the little finger, we find creativity, a sense of beauty, and inner clarity; in the ring finger, there is sense of family, the ability to love, and a feeling of security; initiative, sobriety, and the love of order are found in the middle finger; intellectual faculty, individuality, and striving for power are in the index finger; the will, instinctiveness, and vitality in general are found in the thumb. Further classifications from astrology and palmistry can be found in the illustrations on page 38 and the one below.As you can see, you have "a great deal in your hands" with the mudras. You can take hold of your life with your own two hands and decide what is important to you.

Meridians and Deep Meridians

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Meridians are the energy paths that run through the body and control its individual functions (circulation, respiration, digestion, and individual organs). The beginning and ending points of the meridians are taken into particular consideration by the mudras. In acupuncture, only the superficial meridians are considered and the system of deep meridians is often even rejected as being speculative. Since the effect of many mudras only

became clear to me once I learned about the deep meridians, I am also presenting
this system here.
Try encircling your fingers around your little finger more often. This is good for your heart! If you tend to be chilled easily, or susceptible to illness, then encircle or massage your ring finger.

Reflex Zones in our body

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The hand reflex zones correspond to the foot reflex zones, the massage treatment of which is generally known today. Both of the following illustrations show the reflex points or surfaces that are connected with the muscles and organs. Since some of the organs are only found on one side of the body (such as the heart and liver), this is reflected in the hands.

Since hands come in different sizes, you may not find the exact pressure point immediately. But with some practice, even the nonexpert can find the right spot.
When you have found the desired point, massage it with your thumb, using light pressure and slow, circular movements. One to 3 minutes are enough.

Acupressure and Healing

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Next to acupuncture, acupressure is the best-known Chinese healing method in the Western countries. Instead of using needles, the meridians are stimulated with the fingers. In the following two illustrations you can see the corresponding points. The non expert can simply press them lightly with the thumb for several minutes to achieve a positive effect.

If vou have high blood pressure, massage the middle finger from the root to the tip. To counteract low blood pressure, massage the middle finger from the tip to the root. Do the same with the index finger if you have diarrhea or constipation.

Chakras in Yoga

2008-08-22T05:32:00.000-07:00

The classification of the chakras with the fingers is not the same in all schools of yoga. The most prevalent classification is shown on the hand illustrated here. But there are also yoga masters who classify the little finger with the root chakra, the ring finger with the sacral chakra, the middle finger with the solar plexus chakra, the index finger with the heart chakra, and the thumb with the throat chakra. It should be noted that only the five chakras found along the spinal column are assigned to the individual fingers.

Yoga Excersice part - II

2008-08-21T01:55:00.001-07:00

Isn't it wonderful that a mudra can have so many positive effects? Not only can we use mudras to influence all of our body regions and functions, but every act of touching and every movement of the hands has its special effect. Doing handicrafts, playing an instrument, washing the hands, or massaging—all of these acts have long-lasting effects.

Particularly when you wash your hands, you can squeeze
them vigorously and massage them at the same time: Press the
four fingers of one hand together with the other hand and
turn the fingers you are holding to both sides. Then make
fists, open the hands again, and spread the fingers. Or vigorously
rub both palms together.
Or cross your fingers with each other, turn the palms outward,
and stretch your arms. This will refresh you, improve
your breathing, and strengthen your heart
If you sit at a desk for a longer period of time and your neck
becomes tense or painful, use the thumb and index finger
(with the thumb touching the inside of the hand) to grasp each
one of the eight finger-webs at the root of the fingers. Massage
the point beneath it and pull the web to the front at least 6
times. When you do this, be sure to be in an upright and
relaxed posture.
If you place the index finger, middle finger, and ring finger of
one hand on the longitudinal grooves of the back of the other
hand and gently massage back and forth, this will have a regulating
effect on the blood pressure.
A pleasant game to improve your mood, refresh you in a holistic
way, and stimulate every bodily function is hand tapping (it
is hard to stay serious when you do this, and children can't seem to get enough of it). Clap or tap your hands at least eight
times in rhythm. At first, clap in the usual way. Then let the
hands hang down and clap the backs of the hands together,
then the backs of the fingers, the fingertips, the outer side of
the hand, the inner side of the hand, the wrists, the knuckles,
etc. The only limit is your imagination. Now you will notice
that depending on what you are tapping or how you are clapping,
a different tone is created. Use your hands to play your
own drum concert. Drumming has been used since time
immemorial to initiate healing processes. Today, people are
using it for this same purpose again.

With a bit of imagination, you can put together your own program of hand
exercises. You can't do anything wrong here if you carry out every movement
slowly and consciously.
The following illustrations will show you various traditions that
work with hand energy. This isn't meant to confuse you, but to show you
how tremendously diverse this system is. If you take an exact look at it, you
will even come across logical inconsistencies. These occur because the individual
systems engage various levels, connected like threads that get lost in
mysterious unfathomableness—and probably interconnect there.

A Little Yoga Exercise

2008-08-21T01:53:00.001-07:00

While inhaling, hold your hands in front of your chest with fingers
spread. Hold your breath and stretch out your arms horizontally at
your side. Now exhale and vigorously make a fist with each hand.
Then breathe normally, open the fists, and lower your arms. Repeat
three times.

This little exercise expands the bronchial tubes, opens the lungs, strengthens the heart, and refreshes the mind. Asthmatic patients often cough during this exercise because it loosens the mucus in the bronchial tubes, and heart patients feel an intensified awareness of the heart. Use Middendorf, a leading expert in the field of respiratory therapy, has proved that a direct relationship can be established between the individual
fingers and the corresponding areas of the lungs. The index fingers and thumbs influence breathing in the upper area of the lungs, the middle finger in the middle area, and the little finger in the lower lung region. You can confirm this statement yourself by placing the tips of the ring finger and little finger on top of each other. Where do you feel the respiratory impulse in particular? Sometimes this test works the first time you try it otherwise, it usually works after the first few attempts. Furthermore, the ends of the nerve paths of the hands, as well as the feet, occupy a particularly large area in the brain. This area is much larger than that of the arms and legs. Cerebral activity is activated and trained by touching and feeling, especially with the fingertips. For example, finger games are employed to remedy children's learning difficulties. These
games stimulate the corresponding connections in the brain and activate the brain waves. When mudras are practiced consciously, which means that we focus on our fingers and whatever they are resting on, they activate large areas of the brain.

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Yoga Mudras and other Hand Therapies

2008-08-18T13:47:00.000-07:00

We will never completely comprehend the magnificent correlations of our world. There is an order—on both a large and small scale—a reason for this universe of ours. Relationships
and correspondences fill me with awe. For example, can you imagine what it means when scientists claim that the code of the entire body, including character traits, is inherent to the
nucleus of each individual cell? Eastern sages and doctors say that the body, mind, and soul are inherent to every fingertip, every finger joint in each individual finger, and naturally also in the entire hand itself. So it is quite likely that we actually have great influence on every area of the body through the fingers and/or hands. The effect of mudras will be expressed on many different levels. The physical level is associated with material energy, but the many subtle levels are far from being completely researched. Each human being is an individual energy field or sphere. (To imagine this, think of various colored swaths of fog that mix together, permeate each other, yet still remain unified within their own color.) There are different opinions as to how many
levels of energy resonate within: some schools speak of five, others of seven, and others of twelve, but there are probably even more.

These energy fields are subject to various vibrations, some of which move more quickly than the others. The physical senses are oriented toward one very specific vibration, and this is why we can only perceive this vibration in particular. However, the ancient yogis could perceive
other vibrations, such as those of the chakras (energy transformers) and the nadis, subtle streams of energy. (If you are not yet familiar with chakra theory, see Appendix D.) In Ayurveda, the healing art that originated in India, the fingers have long had the individual organs and elements associated with them. The Chinese researched the system of meridians, the subtle energy streams, creating various treatment approaches as a result. The Gypsies are said to have developed palmistry, and the hands and individual fingers are also associated with the planetary powers in astrology.

Let's look at the very concrete effect that the hands and fingers have on other areas of the body. There is a direct relationship between the hands
and the neck since the nerve paths run through the vertebral foramina in the arms, hands, and fingers. The flexibility of the hands always effects the flexibility of the neck. Therefore, hand exercises relieve tensions in the
neck.
Moreover, spreading the ten fingers creates a reflex that causes the thoracic (chest) vertebrae to spread out. This increases the tidal volume of the lungs. The hands and/or fingers also have an additional direct relationship to the heart and lungs. With increasing age, many people can no longer properly stretch their fingers. This shows tension in the heart area, which
often indicates the prelude to heart disease or a tendency toward osteoporosis. This slightly crooked hand position also impedes inhalation. The result is that the optimum amount of air is not drawn into the lungs, especially into the lung borders, which promotes contamination in those areas.

Yoga Mudras and Healing Emotional problems

2008-08-18T13:18:00.000-07:00

One important reason why I started with yoga was an experience I had as a young person taking asthma medication. As a result of taking medication, I could no longer grasp correlations, and my memory was impaired; I was apathetic and immensely indifferent. I thought I might be "sick in the head" and might stay that way. Since then, I have been interested in brain research and everything that keeps people mentally fit.
Mudras do true wonders in this field. For a number of years now, hand exercises have been successfully used on children in special education classes. Run your thumb along your fingertips in a gentle and conscious way.

This feels wonderful! It's refreshing for your brain. The brain should be trained like a muscle every day. It has been proved that even after a few days of rest in bed (after an operation, for example), the activity of the brain is reduced. It has also been demonstrated that the brain can regenerate very quickly through the appropriate training. Practicing mudras can be called pure brain training. There is a positive influence on the brain waves, particularly when the fingertips touch each other. When we visualize inner images at the same time, this requires a great deal of ability from the brain and promotes the power of the imagination. This power is one of the reconditions for mental alertness and clear thinking.

The accompanying affirmations promote a clear manner of expression, which is also a mental power. When a mudra is done with full concentration, and a state of serenity is maintained, cerebral activity is
calmed and regenerated. In addition, many mudras synchronize the right and left hemisphere of the brain. This promotes memory, the general ability to recollect, and, miraculously, creativity as well. I will risk claiming that a trained brain remains fit up into a ripe old age. The great yogis have also demonstrated this to us with their mental
alertness as seniors. I can also observe—and my surrounding world has confirmed this—that my own ability to recollect, my memory, clear thinking, and concentration have never been so pronounced as today. Colleagues who are as old as I am complain about the opposite. And I am no more talented than they are! The only difference is that I constantly train my brain. Always see the good in your fellow human beings, put the negative aspects of the past behind you, live completely in the present, and make the best you possibly can of it. Expect the best from the future and remain in constant contact with cosmic consciousness—then nothing will stand in the way of a meaningful and happy life. I can hardly describe the blessings that this kind of constructive thinking has brought me. Incidentally, this attitude in life is also the best for my health. Mudras have a wondrous effect on the emotional area of our lives, which includes the soul, our feelings, and our moods. It is no coincidence that people make fists when they are vehemently agitated, or that hands become limp and their movements flighty during depressions. If we want to change oppressive moods, we can do so by changing our breathing rhythm accordingly. The way we breathe can stimulate us, calm us, inflame us, or cool us down.

Using Yoga Mudras to heal physical complaints

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Mudras used against a great variety of health disorders are primarily found in Chinese medicine. These usually have their origin in the Five Element Theory , the principles of which are still unknown in the West. However, the Indian yoga master and healer Keshav Dev, who intensively researched the effect of the mudras many years ago, can also confirm the healing power of the mudras. He says: "Your destiny lies in your hands, and this should be taken quite literally. Not only because the hand lines show the past and future of a person, but above all because each finger has its very own functions and power within the organism. If you know how to use this power, you can maintain your physical health and mental peace. When I tell patients about the mudras, their first reaction is skepticism. They ask me, 'How can my illness be improved if I do nothing more than just press together a few of my fingers?' But as soon as they begin to trust and have carried out the exercises, they feel the effect and their skepticism changes into astonishment. Then I explain to them that these techniques, which look so simple, are extremely valuable gifts that were given to us from the most enlightened yoga masters of ancient times."

Everyone who has been involved with the healing effect of the rnudras emphasizes that a sensible lifestyle and diet must absolutely be taken into consideration. An unhealthy lifestyle usually consists of inferior diet, lack of exercise, and too little fresh air, rest, and relaxation—coupled with too much stress, worry, negative thoughts, and negative feelings. Practicing the mudras, together with a healthy diet, routine rest periods, adequate exercise (yoga, jogging, hiking, biking, etc.) will naturally lead to an optimal lifestyle. And this is the basis for health. (
When mudras are used to support the healing of chronic health disorders,
they should be routinely employed as a course of treatment over a period of several weeks or months. A chronic disease has already had its beginnings within a person many years before it actually becomes evident. Consequently, a certain amount of time is required in order to dissolve the waste materials that have deposited themselves in the arteries, organs, individual
cells, and energy fields.

Some mudras can also be used as help in an emergency (for example: lumbago, dizziness, nausea, or heart attack). Practice these when they are necessary and only as long as they are necessary. Sudden complaints are not a coincidence, but are the explosion of an imbalanced state that has already flared up within us for a longer period of time. This is why a mudra shouldn't just be used like a fast-acting medication to subdue symptoms. Get to the bottom of the matter. Meditate- ask inside yourself what this physical attack means for you. Ask persistently and honestly, for then you will also receive an honest answer. Perhaps it won't be comfortable, but it
will have a healing effect in the long run.

Yoga- mudras and colors

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Colors influence our minds and our lives on every level. In color
therapy, various shades of color are specifically applied to regener-
ate the organs and glands, as well as to activate the processes of
elimination, respiration, and circulation. Colors also influence our moods
and every type of mental activity.

• Red stimulates the circulation, makes us alert, warms and
relaxes, but can also bring out aggression;

• Orange improves the mood, promotes lightness, stimulates
sexuality, but can also stimulate superficiality;

• Yellow stimulates digestion, makes us mentally alert, and lets
life appear in a bright light, but it can also be obtrusive;

• Green is generally calming; it regenerates on every level, and
gives us the desire to start something new;

• Blue is also calming, but this calmness goes deeper and pro-
vides a sense of security; it conveys protection, and symbolizes t
the silent yearning for the incomprehensible;

• Violet is the color of transformation, change, and spirituality;

• Brown is the color of stability and connection to the earth, but
too much can lead to stagnation;

• White bears the entire spectrum of the other colors within
itself, containing birth as well as death;

• Black is the color of protection, of gathering strength, of
retreat, and of the emptiness that already bears abundance
within itself. Many teenagers like to wear black because they
stand at the gateway of a new period of their lives. However,
too much black weakens the organism, puts us in a sad mood,
and promotes pessimism.

There are basically no "bad" colors, but it is important to use the right pro-
portions. Every color can also be seen in our aura or energy body. When a
color gains dominance or is not in its right place, it will initially have an
effect on the general feeling of well-being. With time, a health disorder
may develop as a result. However, the course of an illness can also be
reversed with the help of colors.
It would go beyond the scope of this book to discuss the entire spectrum of colors used in healing. The following suggestions can help you have some good and beautiful experiences using color meditations. If you prefer a certain color, it may well be that you need the corresponding qual ities. However, if you give too much preference to one color, this can develop into an addiction and the color may harm you.

While holding a mudra, you can either visualize a color or concentrate on the color of an object. The first approach is better because the color will then come to life, which means you can imagine the color as dark or light, dull or bright, connected to forms, or flowing, etc. For example, you feel the need to go into the forest because you can best regenerate yourself there but don't have the time to do so. You can imagine a very green forest, and in your thoughts, you can totally luxuriate in the green of the leaves. This will refresh you inwardly. Such visualizations have long been used successfully, and pictures of lush landscapes are specifically installed in many hospitals to support the healing process. Try it out!

Yoga - mudras and music

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Some clinics and rehabilitation centers use music as a component of routine therapy. We all know the healing effect of music, as a number of books have been published on the subject. But music is also good for healthy people who are occasionally plagued by weakness or physical imbalances. Since the music used for therapy plays anywhere from three to twelve minutes, and this amount of time corresponds to how long one holds a mudra, it is obvious that mudras and music can have a wonderful influence on each other.

Tension—either physical or mental-emotional— can be relieved by listening to the right kind of music. The right kind of music has a calming and relaxing effect, possibly even taking a person into a state of deep relaxation. Stress and tension can also lead to an acute or a chronic state of exhaustion that can be positively influenced by music.

If you pay attention to the following points, you can get a lot from using music with your mudras:

• Consider your own taste in music;
• Determine how long the playing time should be;
• Listen to the same piece at the same time for at least three days
in row;
• Listen consciously, and immediately let go of any thoughts
that may arise.

Which music pieces are best suited for this purpose? Helen Bonny, who developed GIM (Guided Imagery Music), writes: "Tranquilizing and relaxing music is oriented to the human heart, on a calm and relaxed pulse. Overall, tranquilizing music is distinctly calm and more harmonious, with
lightly flowing melodies. A person doesn't have to immediately fall asleep to it, but this music promotes specific feelings, such as an inner calm, relaxation, and contentment."7
According to the opinion of the GIM trainer, classical music is particularly
suited for healing and relaxing, and solo concerts have a stronger
effect than symphonies. There is a special power in slow movements—
andante, adagio, and largo. For a relaxation effect, the most suitable instrument
is the oboe, followed by the piano, the cello, the violin, the clarinet,
and the organ. Vocals are less suited for promoting relaxation. The following
keys are the most effective: C major, D major, B major, and F
major. In summary, it can be said that many low and few high frequencies
lead to relaxation. High frequency, "airy" music tends to be more suited for
a light, elevating mood. With these guidelines, you can now put together
your own appropriate and individual music pharmacy.
It is worthwhile to find out which music especially appeals to you so
you can become more conscious of your own individuality in this respect.
For example, some relaxation music has precisely the opposite effect on
me—it gets on my nerves, and even makes me feel aggressive.
Incidentally, if you have trouble taking the time to do chores around
the house, try playing some snappy marches or hot rock music, or even
techno, to bring fresh momentum into this bothersome situation!

BREATHING, VISUALIZATION, AND AFFIRMATIONS TO ENHANCE THE MUDRAS

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The effect of a mudra can be immensely intensified with the breath. This is why it is very important to know what breathing does. When you understand the following principles, then you
can influence the effect of a mudra according to your own needs.

• Pay attention to a symmetrical posture and hold your arms about one inch away from your body. Even this position alone brings a sense of inner equilibrium and harmony as it regulates
the activity of the nervous system and hormonal glands.

• In addition to carbon dioxide, we also discharge expended energy on the subtle level when we exhale deeply. This is why you should always exhale vigorously several times at the beginning of a mudra. Make room for what you want to achieve.

• Always lengthen the little pause after inhaling and after exhaling by several seconds. This is the most important aspect of the breathing process. The inner powers are developed
during the pauses—on every level.

• When you practice a mudra to calm yourself, then slow your breathing.

• When you practice a mudra to refresh yourself, then intensify your breathing.

• The optimal quality of breathing is achieved when the breath is slow, deep, rhythmic, flowing, and fine.

At the beginning of a mudra meditation, exhale vigorously several times and then let the breath become deeper and slower. You now have three possibilities:

First: Focus on your hands and fingers, perceive the gentle pressure
where they touch each other;
Second: While inhaling, you can press the fingertips together a
bit more and let go of the pressure when exhaling;
Third: You can do it the other way around and apply a bit
more pressure while exhaling and let go of the pressure when
inhaling.

Every variation has its special effect. The first variation centers, creates inner equilibrium, and builds up strength in general. The second variation strengthens the will and refreshes. The third variation calms and relaxes. Try out these variations and feel the difference yourself! It is possible that you won't immediately feel the effect, but it is still there. The outer circumstances of our lives usually shape themselves according to our imagination and the contents of our minds. So we have the possibility of shaping our inner images in such a way that we enjoy life, experience success in our work, and have relationships on a loving and understanding basis. It is very important to create an unshakable faith and be filled with both fervor and serenity to accompany our self-made images.
We need to create little experiences of success for ourselves, since what functions in a small way will also succeed on a larger scale. We can slowly build and develop this confidence. Just imagine what would happen if a great many people would simultaneously imagine a beautiful world with
rich flora, content animals, happy human beings, and firmly believe that this is possible. Join in—then there will already be two of us!

If we can clearly express what we do not want and definitively formulate our wishes and needs, this can already be the beginning of a new order in life. For many years now, I have worked with affirmations— sometimes more, sometimes less. Time and time again, their astounding effects have astonished me. For example, my kitten disappeared one day. I repeated the same sentence over and over the entire day: "With divine strength and power, I find my kitten again." Toward evening, I simply knew where my kitten was. The woman was completely perplexed when I claimed that my cat was in her garage, but it was true. It is so simple, and some people even find it a bit naive. But things that are particularly simple and naive usually have the greatest effective power. The same principle applies to affirmations as it does to visualizations. Say them full of faith, fervor, and serenity. You can say them one to three times, during or after the meditation. You can also pause for a moment during the day and speak your affirmation in a quiet or a loud voice. Make use of this wonderful possibility and talk yourself into what you really want—what is good for you. If you want to get rid of something stubborn, a negation can also be helpful. Speak it at the beginning, while you are vigorously exhaling. For example, "This hatred (or resentment, feeling of guilt, pain, fear, desire to smoke, etc.) will immediately disappear and dissolve itself"

How Long is a Yoga Mudra Held?

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The great masters do not agree on the length of time to practice a mudra position. The Indian mudra researcher Keshav Dev recommends holding one mudra per day for 45 minutes; chronic complaints can be eliminated in this way.6 If it isn't possible to do this, these 45 minutes can be divided into three time periods of 15 minutes each. The kinesiologist Kim da Silva, who has tested the effect of mudras over longer periods of time, recommends an individually, precisely determined time for holding each mudra. If you use a mudra as support for some type of therapy or to heal a chronic complaint, then I think it is beneficial to use it routinely, like a medication: every day at the same time and for the same length of time. Mudras that are used for acute complaints—such as respiratory and circulation problems, flatulence, exhaustion, or inner restlessness—should be discontinued when the appropriate effect is achieved. Other mudras can be practiced for 3 to 30 minutes, two to four times a day. Using a stopwatch is the ideal way to time them. The time specifications that I have assigned to the individual mudras are meant to be an orientation aid, but not a dogma. You will also notice that your hands, especially the fingers, will become increasingly sensitive and respond to the mudras much more quickly after they have been given some training. If you need 5 minutes at the start to feel the effect of a mudra, in time you will only need 10 breaths. This is a wonderful experience! However, if you are confined to your bed, then you have enough time and should permit yourself to make good use of it. Also let the visualizations and affirmations continue to have their lasting effect afterward. You can use this time for your own benefit, for the healing of the body, mind, and soul.

The effect of a mudra may be perceived immediately or only after a certain amount of time. You start to feel warm, the sense of unwellness and pain fade away, your mood improves, and your mind is refreshed. But exactly the opposite may occur at the start. You become tired, or start to feel cold and shiver. This is also a positive sign of the effect.

Where and When Can You Practice Yoga Mudras?

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You can actually practice the mudras at any time and in any place. Modern authors take the view that mudras can even be done while stuck in traffic, watching television, or when you have to wait for someone or something. However, my opinion differs somewhat from this perspective for the following reasons: mudras should be done in a meditative, harmonious mood. Can you guarantee that while stuck in traffic you won't be stressed and fuming with annoyance because you aren't getting to where you want to go, or that you sit in front of the television because you are "relaxing" by watching a hard-core thriller or vehement political debate on taxes? I invite you to do an interesting test: place your thumb and index finger together and think about something wonderful for a few minutes while you do this (an experience in nature, winning at sports, sex, etc.)—it doesn't matter what it is, as long as it lets you float on pink clouds. Now
try to feel the energy that flows from the index finger to the thumb. Finished! Now do the same thing again, but this time imagine something terribly sad. Once again, feel the energy of the fingers. Do you notice a difference? You will certainly have discovered how dull the flow of energy felt the second time.
This little experiment shows me how important it is to practice mudras while in a good mood and in a positive atmosphere. Feelings and thoughts influence the energy fields and the flow of energy in a negative or positive manner, even if we don't notice it. This is no joking matter. As I will explain later, we want to engage these energy fields in a positive sense. This is why the basic tone of our momentary mood and situation is so important. However, there are also mudras and breathing techniques for serenity, patience, and composure. These can be used to initially get into the right mood. For example, when stuck in traffic, standing in line, or sitting on a
train, we can first calm down and then begin practicing the actual mudra. When holding a mudra while watching television or listening to the radio, one further factor should be taken into consideration—the time we spend on a mudra should always be a time of self-communion as well. The only exceptions are special programs or music with a much more calming
than stimulating effect on the nerves. If we have planned our days so poorly
that we don't have three peaceful minutes, if we let ourselves constantly
be exposed to the radio or television from our first waking moments until
we fall asleep at night, then mudras actually have no place in our lives.
Mudras can truly be practiced almost anywhere and at any time, but
only when we can also withdraw within ourselves almost anywhere and at
any time. This really isn't all that difficult and can be learned, like everything
else. It concerns our health—we need a few silent minutes now and
then every day. These silent moments can be the most precious to us; and
like the salt in the dough that gives the bread its good taste, silence adds the
right spice to our lives. "
A good time to practice mudras is a few minutes before getting up
and a few minutes before falling asleep, before or after meals, when you
walk somewhere (we all need to walk a certain distance every day), while
on public transportation, or during breaks at work. However, don't just try out a number of mudras in a row at random.
Specifically select just one or two. Practice these according to a time plan.
Decide when, how long, and how often you want to do them every day. Or
plan to fill both the usual and unpredictable times with them when you
have to wait. Practice only these mudras over the next few days. The effects may occur immediately, especially if you have acute complaints or mood swings. But it may also be that the effects you hope for only occur after several days. For chronic complaints, it usually takes several weeks or even months before an improvement takes place. Only patience can help
here. Moreover, it is always worth it since many new perceptions can be
gained and wonderful moments experienced, in addition to the desired
healing. You should also know that when something changes within, there
is a corresponding change in your surrounding world. Every healing within also brings healing into your world. An illness in the body is always connected with thoughts and feelings that make people sick. A certain amount of time is required before healing takes place on every level. So allow yourself the time—practice ardently and remain completely serene and confident while doing so. Then the chances of healing will be the greatest.

How Are Mudras Practiced?

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Quite simply: Form your hands and place the fingers as they are shown in
the various illustrations. When you do this, the pressure of the fingers should
be very light and fine, and your hands should be relaxed. But perhaps you may
notice that this isn't all that simple! The fingers are rebellious, too inflexible,
and the hands slip away or tire quickly. The flexibility of the hands has
a direct relationship to the flexibility of the entire body. If we are tense at a
certain place in the body, this tension will be expressed at a corresponding area in the hands. Even a person's age can be determined on the basis of the
spread fingers—at least this is what the Chinese healing practitioners claim.

My body and my hands have become very flexible through many
years of yoga practice. Yet, I can only do the mudra against backaches,
which I need the most, with one hand because I have to use the other to
hold the fingers in position. At the beginning, you may perhaps also have
problems in doing some of the mudras with both hands because you will
first have to arrange and hold the fingers of one hand with the other. If this
is the case, just do the mudra with the one hand for the time being. If the
fingers that should actually be stretched curl on their own again, simply
press them onto your thigh or some other place where you can rest them.
With time, the tensions will dissolve in the fingers or hand, as well as in the
corresponding area of the body.
Do the mudra as well as possible and the effect will appear in any
case. In the beginning, it may be difficult to keep the fingers extended.
When the fingers get tired, they give in. With time, I am certain that you
will gain more strength in your hands, become more flexible, and will be
able to use both hands. You will also feel more refreshed and flexible. It is
also possible that you will feel somewhat younger.
Even when you have become stronger and more flexible, always treat
your fingers in a careful and loving way. It doesn't matter why you are
doing the mudra, it should not only be a healing gesture, but also a holy
gesture.
Mudras can be done while seated, lying down, standing, and walking.
Be sure that your body posture is symmetrical and centered, and that
you are as relaxed and loose as possible. If you sit on a chair while doing
them, your back should be straight and your feet should have good contact
with the floor. If you do them while lying down, resting on your back is
naturally the most suitable position. If you stay in this position for a long
period of time, put a small pillow beneath the back of your head to take the
strain off the neck. To relieve your back, you can put a cushion under the hollow of the knee or thigh. It
is important to remain comfortable and relaxed, for any tension will also hinder the inner flow of energy and we want something new to flow with the mudras. If you do them while walking, make sure you move in an even, calm, and rhythmic way. If you stand while doing them,
keep your legs shoulder distance apart. The knees should be relaxed, and the tips of the toes must point forward. If you have a bit more time, you can also do the mudras in a seated
meditation position—this will turn them into a longer period of meditation.
When you do this, take into consideration the following basic principles
of meditation technique:

• Sit with an upright pelvis and a straight spinal column on a
stable cushion. Both knees should be flat on the ground or at
the same height (if necessary, support the lower knee with a
cushion until it is at the same height as the other knee).
• Let the hands relax on the thighs.
• Let the shoulders fall back and down in a relaxed way; your
chest should be open and free.
• Pull the chin back a bit, and let the neck be long and relaxed.
• Breathe in an even, slow, flowing, and gentle way.
• Never end the meditation suddenly. Always vigorously
stretch your arms and legs.

You can also form a mudra and think of something else at the same time.
However, I have found that the effect is accelerated and intensified when
you simultaneously assume a meditative position, focus on your hands, and
observe your breathing. Observing the normal flow of the breath or influencing
and directing the breath is a very important way of supporting the
mudra. How to do this is explained for the individual mudras.
Corresponding visualizations and affirmations can be used so that this
never becomes just a routine matter. These also intensify the effects of the
mudras. For some exercises, I am no longer certain what has the greatest
effect—the mudra, the breathing technique, the visualized image, or the
spoken word. But who cares? It fulfills its purpose, lets you feel good, and
makes you happy!

Origin of Yoga mudras

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The origin of the mudras is a mystery. Mudras are not only found
in Asia, but they are also used throughout the entire world. In
their rituals, our European ancestors certainly were familiar with
specific gestures, which they used to underline and seal what they thought
and wanted to say. During the Christianization of the Nordic peoples,
many gestures were initially prohibited, such as invoking the gods with
raised arms. Later, these gestures were partially integrated into the
Christian teachings. If we observe the various gestures made by a priest
saying the Mass, we can perhaps sense how these ancient peoples expressed
themselves. But our everyday life is also characterized by gestures, the origins
of which hardly anyone knows today: crossing our fingers for someone,
clapping our hands as applause, the handshake, holding hands, or
"giving someone the finger" to display our low opinion of them.
In India, mudras are an established component of all religious activities.
The various mudras and hastas (arm poses) are significant in the
depiction of Hindu gods. In addition to body postures and attributes, they
also represent the distinguishing characteristics of various deities. The person
at prayer sees a special power, capability, and strength of character in
these mystical hand poses. The best-known mudras of the major gods
Brahma (Creator), Vishnu (Preserver), and Shiva (Destroyer) are numbers
41, 42, 43, 46, 47, and 48.
The mudras are just as familiar in Indian dance, where the hands,
eyes, and body movements act and/or dance the entire drama without words. Mudra specialist Ingrid Ramm-Bonwitt describes this beautifully,
"The hands are the bearers of important symbols, which are still universally
understood in the East today. With his or her hands, the Indian dancer
expresses the life of the universe. Through its variety of interpretive possibilities,
the rich symbolism of the dance's language of gestures gains a
greater significance for the mind than words could express. . . . The spiritual
meaning of the mudras found its perfect expression in Indian art. The
gestures of the deities depicted in Hindu and Buddhist art . . . symbolize
their functions or evoke specific mythological occurrences."4
Mudras are also practiced in Tantric rituals.5 They play a large role
in Buddhism, where six mudras are very familiar in the pictorial depictions
of Gautama Buddha. These are very closely related to his teachings
and his life (see mudra numbers 41, 43, 46, 47, 48, and 49).
Hatha Yoga also expresses the many states of mind, such as mourning,
joy, anger, and serenity, through gestures and body positions. They
realize that the reverse also applies—certain gestures can positively influence
the psyche.

What are mudras in Yoga?

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Mudra is a term with many meanings. It is used to signify a gesture, a mystic position of the hands, a seal, or even a symbol. However, there are eye positions, body postures, and breathing techniques that are called mudras. These symbolic finger, eye, and body postures can vividly depict certain states or processes of consciousness.

Conversely, specific positions can also lead to the states of consciousness
that they symbolize. What does this mean in concrete terms?
For example, a person who frequently and fervently does the gesture of
fearlessness, which can often be seen in the depiction of Indian deities, will
also be freed from fearfulness with time. So mudras engage certain areas
of the brain and/or soul and exercise a corresponding influence on them.
However, mudras are also effective on the physical level. I discuss this in
the section called "Mudras and Other Hand Therapies."
We can effectively engage and influence our body and our mind by
bending, crossing, extending, or touching the fingers with other fingers.
Isn't this wonderful?
In Hatha Yoga,1 there are 25 mudras. These also include eye and
body positions (asanas) and locks (bandhas). In this book, I will only briefly
touch on them and mainly describe the hand mudras. Especially in Kundalini Yoga,2 the hand mudras are used during the body postures to
intensify their effect. The kundalini expert Lothar-Riidiger Liitge
explains: "In this respect, Kundalini Yoga assumes that every area of the
hand forms a reflex zone for an associated part of the body and the brain.
In this way, we can consider the hands to be a mirror for our body and our
mind."

As I recently meditated on the term mudra, I became particularly
aware of the symbol of a lock. A lock always conceals a secret. We frequently
use gestures in an unconscious way to seal something; for example,
when giving special weight to a decision, or reaching an agreement with
another person, or even with cosmic consciousness. In precisely the same
way, we may also seal something with our inner forces—we reach an understanding
with ourselves. I don't believe we will ever completely understand
the essence of the mudras. The enigmatic touches on the Divine—so each
mudra ultimately creates a special connection to cosmic consciousness (or
however you prefer to call the Divine). This symbolism, in particular, is the
basis of the best-known hand mudra of yoga, the Chin Mudra.
The thumb is symbolic of cosmic (divine) and the index finger is symbolic of individual (human) consciousness. The ultimate or primary goal of yoga is the oneness of humanity with cosmic consciousness. With this gesture, the human being expresses this desire, this longing. It is interesting to note that both these fingers belong to the metal element in
Chinese Five Element Theory (see Appendix C for more about this topic).
Metal is the material that is the best conductor—it conducts energy.
According to this teaching, the metal element also creates the connection
with the cosmic world, and inspiration and intuition dwell in this element.
The index finger represents inspiration (energy from the outside) and the
thumb stands for intuition (inner energy). In this gesture, intuition and
inspiration form a closed unity. The power of the microcosm and the
macrocosm are connected and mutually fructify each other. We see that if
we dig into the depths of the ancient teachings long enough—or go far
enough into the heights—we will find ourselves at the other end again.