Mudra’s

Mudra’s and gestures create energy flows and align and focus our energies. They provide us with a focus point and help in our intentions and links. Mudra is also defined as a seal, circuit, short cut or bypass.

Mudras can be of the hand, head, and body, and can be done with asana’s (physical poses) and pranayama’s (breathing techniques) or afterwards.

Mudra’s can be used to change the flow of energy to heighten awareness of energies and are available to alter mood, attitude and perceptions, deepening and developing awareness and concentrations.

Jnana Mudra

Is the connection of the thumb and first finger and the hands are turned upwards and resting on the knees.

It is a light touch and the other 3 fingers are lengthened outwards gently.
The thumb represents universal consciousness and the index finger represents individual consciousness and the connection means that we are connecting to universal consciousness. The connection is the unity of the two energies and the culmination of yoga; unity, connection, oneness.
The other 3 fingers represent the gunas the quality of our nature: Tamas – inertia, Rajas – activity and Sattva – harmony.
With the hands turned upwards you may feel a lightness and openness in the chest area, and the upward facing of the hands also represents openness and receiving.

If you are new to practice the finger and thumb may separate but try to hold a gentle touch and stay connected to the feeling of the connection. After some time you may experience a feeling that the connection does in fact have space or tingling and numbness in sensations may be felt.

The fingers and palms of hands have a lot of nerve endings which emit energy, so by connecting the thumb and finger we are sending a conduit of energy back to the body and upwards to the brain. Resting the hands on the knees connects to other energy lines in the legs which connect to Mooladhara – the base chakra and stimulate this energy centre too.

As always take time to practice and notice the feelings that arise and change as we progress and live…