What Is Yoga Mudra?

The word mudra means seal and refers to a series of techniques for sealing prana (life-force energy) inside the body. In ancient yoga practices, mudras were very esoteric and complex rituals involving chanting, meditation and other practices that Westerners might find unusual. In Western terminology, mudra refers to specific hand gestures used during meditation. It's believed that prana can escape through the fingertips as it circulates through the body. Hand mudras create a closed circuit, allowing the energy to circulate back through the body.

Loosely translated, Namaste means "The Divine in me acknowledges the divine in you." In the Namaste mudra, the palms of the hands are together, as if in prayer, and held at heart level. The Namaste mudra is a gesture of respect , honoring the light within, and may be performed at the beginning or end of a meditation or yoga practice.

Om is a mystical and sacred syllable in several Indian religions. It's often used as a mantra during meditation. In Sanscrit, Om is spelled with three letters (AUM) and each letter is a sacred symbol. "A" represents the material world, "U" represents the psychic realm and "M" represents spiritual light. In the Om gesture, rest the hands, palms up, on each knee and bring the tips of the index finger and thumbs together. The Om mudra forms a complete circuit and invokes divine balance and harmony.

Jnana is Sanskrit for knowledge and philosophy. The Jnana gesture is similar to the Om gesture, except that the tip of each index finger connects with the center of each thumb. The Jnana mudra produces wisdom and promotes harmonious inward expression, openness and relinquishing the ego.

Loosely translated, Buddhi means enlightenment. In the Buddhi gesture, make the Om gesture and then bring the backs of the hands together, with knuckles touching, and rest the hands against the lower abdomen at the navel. The Buddhi mudra represents Buddha and is ideal for centering, calming and realizing the inner divinity and the oneness of self. This mudra is ideal when feeling tense because it quiets the mind.

Mantras are often used, in association with mudras, during meditation. The purpose of a mantra is to use sound to resonate in the body and stimulate the chakras. While Om is the most well-known meditation, any sound or sequence of meaningful words can be a mantra.