Mudras with Emma Ayotte

👐 Mudras are symbolic, ritualistic gestures used across yoga, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism. Translating to “seal,” “gesture,” or “mark”, mudras are believed to affect the flow of prana in the body. 

There are more than 100 known mudras that developed over centuries. Although hand (hasta) mudras are most commonly used in yoga, there are also body (kaya) and consciousness (citta) mudras. 

Here are 3 hasta mudras to explore:

🔋Prana mudra

Prana mudra stimulates energy in the body, activating dormant energy on its way. Some feel this mudra acts as an energetic “pick me up”, helping you become more in tune with the world around you. Prana mudra can be used during meditation or with yoga postures such as sukhasana.

🪷Padma mudra

Drawing inspiration from the lotus flower, this mudra works to open the heart & tap into compassion. Padma mudra can bring more loving-kindness into any meditation and postures such as padmasana (lotus pose), tadasana (mountain pose), and virasana (hero pose).

⚖️ Shunya mudra

This mudra is thought to foster patience, discipline & stability. A particularly beneficial mudra when meditating, it can be used when seated, standing or even walking - so long as the posture is symmetrical. 

Lots of the “younger yogis” were making the shape of a heart with their hands during the height of COVID in place of a hug. 

What “mudras” do you experiment with in your own yoga or meditation practice?