In modern times, pain is often an unwanted but constant companion for many of us.
Popping pills can provide temporary respite, but medicines are never free of nasty side effects.
Thousands of years ago, our ancestors in India had found natural and more sustainable methods for getting relief.
As a yoga teacher and a person who shies away from allopathy, I’ve often found myself relying on this ancient wisdom to tackle everyday aches and pains for myself as well as for my students.
This ancient wisdom comes to us in the form of yoga’s ‘Hasta Mudras’, which are essentially hand gestures used to promote healing.
These hand ‘Mudras’, direct the energy flow in a way that corrects the imbalance that must have occurred within us at the level of the five basic elements of which we are composed. So perhaps, the fire element within us is off balance and needs to be increased or decreased, maybe the imbalance is in the water element or then it could be the air or earth or space element.
By manipulating our hands in specific mudra positions, we increase or decrease any or some of these elements, as required, to restore balance and health within. As this balanced state is achieved, pain and discomfort slowly ebb away.
Here, I delineate a few ‘Mudras’ to address common ailments that affect almost all of us regardless of age.
Gyan Mudra For Headaches
If one is prone to headaches, whether from stress or excessive screen time, Gyan Mudra can be our saviour. To do it, we touch the tip of our index finger to the tip of our thumb while letting the other fingers relax. Do it with both hands. We can do it while meditating or even while sitting at our desk. It’s advisable to repeat it a few times in the day, holding it for ten minutes at a stretch. This mudra is incredibly effective in building focus and calming an overactive mind, which is often responsible for headaches.
Prithvi Mudra For Joint Pain
Joint pain can make normal life unnecessarily hard, especially if we are dealing with arthritis or stiffness. I recommend Prithvi Mudra for anyone combatting such an ailment. To do this, we touch the tip of our ring finger to our thumb and keep the other fingers straight.
This mudra helps ground us, bringing in a sense of stability and strength. It is a simple way to ease inflammation and recuperate better from joint pains.
Vayu Mudra For Muscle Pain
If one has ever dealt with muscle cramps or soreness after exercise or even due to sitting sedentary at the same place for too long, Vayu Mudra can come to our rescue. We fold our index finger down to the base of our thumb and gently press our thumb down on the finger while keeping the other fingers extended.
This mudra works by balancing the air element in the body, reducing excess internal movement and tension that causes muscle pain.
Shunya Mudra For Ear Pain
Earaches can be very disconcerting and can make it hard for us to go through our daily activities with a sense of ease. In those instances, Shunya Mudra can help. We fold our middle finger down so that the first joint touches the base of our thumb, and gently press the thumb over it while keeping the other fingers straight.
This mudra works by balancing the space element in our body, reducing pressure and discomfort.
Conclusion
Hasta Mudra Benefits are many, and they address a range of ailments without any side effects. The best part is we can do them anytime, and it’s easy to do them anywhere. Join my Online Yoga Classes at ‘Yoga With Sapna’ to learn about many more remarkable mudras.