Yoga mudras, or hand gestures, are a subtle yet powerful technique for balancing the chakras and enhancing overall well-being. These hand gestures channel energy through the body’s energy channels, or Nadis, influencing the chakras-energy centers aligned along the spine. Each mudra can help harmonize a specific chakra, addressing imbalances and promoting physical, emotional, and spiritual health.
The Connection Between Mudras & Chakras
Chakras are energy centers along the spinal cord, each linked to specific physical, emotional, and spiritual functions. Blockages or imbalances in these chakras can lead to various health issues. Mudras, or hand gestures, are a powerful way to influence the flow of energy in the body and restore balance to these chakras.
Each finger in a mudra represents one of the five elements—earth, water, fire, air, and ether—that make up our body. By forming specific mudras, we can direct these elements through the Nadis, which converge at the chakras. This stimulation activates and balances the chakras, enhancing the flow of prana, or life force energy, throughout the body. Practicing mudras helps clear blockages, restore equilibrium, and promote overall healing.
Also Read: Nadis and Chakras: The Subtle Body’s Energy Flow
Here’s a guide to seven key mudras for balancing each of the seven main chakras:
1. Root Chakra Mudra: Prithvi Mudra
Chakra Colour – RED | Beej Mantra – LAM | Element – EARTH
Prithvi Mudra involves gently bringing the ring finger and thumb together. The ring finger represents the earth element, which directly influences the root chakra.
- The tip of the thumb contains acupressure points that, when pressed during Prithvi Mudra, stimulate the endocrine system’s centres at the base of the root chakra.
- Positioning the palms facing down while practising Prithvi Mudra helps you stay grounded and connected to the earth. This grounding effect balances the root chakra and aligns individual consciousness with the universal.
- Prithvi Mudra promotes grounding, helping to alleviate survival instincts and materialistic fears, which are common signs of an imbalanced root chakra.
How to Do It:
- Sit comfortably with your palms facing down.
- Touch the tip of your ring finger to the tip of your thumb.
- Hold this position while focusing on deep, calming breaths.
2. Sacral Chakra Mudra: Shakti Mudra
Colour – ORANGE | Mantra – VAM | Element – WATER
Shakti Mudra embodies feminine potential and is associated with the creative energy of the universe.
- A lack of pleasure or sexual excitement often signals an imbalanced, too open, or blocked sacral chakra. Shakti Mudra has a replenishing effect on the reproductive system and fosters a sense of happiness.
- Sacral chakra locked desires, feelings, and emotion in its subtle state, which are induced by the practice of shakti mudra.
- Shakti mudra vitalizes the nerves reaching to sacral chakra concerned with various inferior qualities. Therefore, it improves the low confidence, lack of motivation, infertility, low libido in an individual.
How to Do It:
- Sit comfortably with your hands on your lap.
- Fold the fingers inward, touching the thumb to the centre of the palm.
- Keep the thumb extended and focus on your breath.
3. Solar Plexus Chakra Mudra: Matangi Mudra
Colour – YELLOW | Mantra – RAM | Element – FIRE
Matangi is regarded as the goddess of tantric wisdom. Practising Matangi Mudra enhances self-esteem and confidence.
- An imbalance or blockage in the solar plexus chakra often leads to low self-esteem, negative thoughts, and a lack of confidence. Matangi Mudra helps restore harmony and provides deep satisfaction.
- This mudra also addresses digestive issues, which can disrupt solar plexus energy. By stimulating the digestive fire, Matangi Mudra supports the proper function of the digestive system.
- Additionally, Matangi Mudra stimulates the pancreas and adrenal glands, which are crucial for extracting prana or energy from digested food.
How to Do It:
- Sit comfortably with your hands in front of you.
- Interlock your fingers, with your thumbs pointing outward.
- Focus on deep, steady breathing while maintaining the gesture.
4. Heart Chakra Mudra: Padma Mudra
Colour – GREEN | Mantra – YAM | Element – AIR
Padma Mudra symbolizes the journey from a constrained life to enlightenment. The Heart Chakra fosters qualities such as trust, compassion, love, and forgiveness; however, an imbalanced chakra can hinder one’s ability to follow their heart.
- This mudra directs prana flow towards the Heart Chakra, helping to open or balance it. It brings deep contentment, harmony, and a sense of self-happiness to the practitioner.
- Padma mudra freed the one from the web of attachments and give him/her the feeling of completeness within themselves.
- It connects the two hemispheres of the brain, symbolising the link between the individual and the universe.
How to Do It:
- Sit comfortably with your hands in front of you.
- Touch the tips of your fingers together, forming a lotus shape.
- Keep your palms facing each other and breathe deeply.
5. Throat Chakra Mudra: Akash Mudra
Colour – BLUE | Mantra – HAM | Element – ETHER
Akash Mudra is formed by bringing the tip of the middle finger to touch the tip of the thumb. The throat chakra, responsible for expressing feelings, emotions, and thoughts, is supported by Akash Mudra, which enhances the space element.
- In acupressure, the tips of the middle finger and thumb have pressure points that, when pressed, clear the respiratory pathways and promote the flow of prana. This helps open and balance the throat chakra.
- Ayurveda suggests that migraines can result from a deficiency in space elements. Thus, Akash Mudra can help increase these elements.
- This mudra increases the other four elements (air, water, fire, and earth) as well with the space elements. This has a certain inducing and balancing effect on other chakras as well.
How to Do It:
- Sit comfortably with your hands resting on your lap.
- Touch the tip of your middle finger to the tip of your thumb.
- Keep the other fingers extended and focus on your breath.
6. Third Eye Chakra Mudra: Kalesvara Mudra
Colour – INDIGO | Mantra – AUM | Element – LIGHT
Kalesvara Mudra is a hand gesture that calms the mind and reduces the intensity of racing thoughts.
- This mudra directs the flow of spiritual energy to the Ajna chakra, helping to unblock or balance it by channeling energy through the associated Nadis.
- It influences feelings and emotions, impacting both psychological and physical well-being
- Kalesvara Mudra improves memory and concentration by directing energy to the brain and supports maintaining healthy, non-addictive behaviours.
How to Do It
- Sit comfortably and first touch the tips of your middle fingers together.
- Curl the other fingers inward, leaving only the thumb extended.
- Point your thumb towards your chest and hold the gesture, focusing on deep and calm breathing.
7. Crown Chakra Mudra: Hakini Mudra
Colour – VIOLET | Mantra – AH | Element – COSMOS
Hakini represents the goddess of the subtle mind. This mudra involves touching the tips of all fingers together, which helps balance the five elements of the body.
- Hakini Mudra directs spiritual energy to the crown chakra, awakening the individual and leading to a profound sense of bliss and harmony.
- This mudra also fosters communication between the left and right hemispheres of the brain, enhancing both creative decision-making and logical thinking.
- It brings joy and self-contentment, boosts brain energy, and cultivates mental clarity. Additionally, Hakini Mudra supports healing on physical, emotional, and spiritual levels.
How to Do It
- Sit comfortably and bring your hands together, gently touching the tips of all your fingers.
- Keep the palms of both hands facing each other.
- Maintain this posture, close your eyes, and focus on your breathing.
Conclusion
Incorporating yoga mudras into your daily practice is a straightforward and effective method for balancing your chakras. Each mudra focuses on a specific energy centre, helping to clear blockages, restore balance, and enhance overall well-being. Explore these mudras to discover which ones work best for you and experience their beneficial effects on your life.
