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Mudras for Muladhara Chakra
‘Mudra’ is a Sanskrit term that translates to ‘hand gesture.’ Mudras are precise hand gestures designed to improve the flow of energy, Prana, in the body and mind. Mudras have been used since ancient times to express deeper significance in several Hindu and Buddhist ceremonies and traditional dance forms. Mudras are part of the yogic and Vedic healing practice and they continue being practiced nowadays in yoga. When we hear the term yoga, we usually think in yoga asanas and breathing patterns or pranayama, however in any yoga practice yoga mudras or hand gestures are combined, being Namaste the most common and popular.
The term “mudra” is derived from the Sanskrit terms muda and dra, which mean “bliss dissolving,” and denotes to that which dissolves dualism and brings the Yogi and the Divine together.
Yoga Mudra is the technique that works by modifying or diverting energy flow throughout the body through hand movements along acupuncture meridians, putting our energy body into perfect harmony or balance. Because the hands contain all of the acupuncture meridians, they are regarded as the body’s control panel. The five fingers of a hand symbolize the five elements of the body, known as Pancha Mahabhutas, which are fire, water, air, sky, and earth. According to Ayurveda, these energies must be in balance for the body to be at its best health and balance.
When we place our fingers and hands in a specific way, whether we bend, press, cross, extend, or touch our fingers with the other fingers, we are actually altering the energy flow, prana, through these acupuncture points, which influences and stimulates specific areas of the brain and aids in the restoration of elemental balance in the body.
Mudras are practiced along with meditation and breathing techniques to direct the flow of energy throughout the body. It takes some time to become sensitive to the effects of these mudras. To begin, sit in a comfortable meditation posture such as Sukhasana (easy pose), Vajrasana (diamond pose), or Padmasana (lotus pose).
If you don’t feel comfortable sitting on the floor, you may sit on a chair with your back straight. It is critical to warm up your hands before executing these mudras in order to feel the feelings.
It is best to sit in a peaceful and quiet environment that is devoid of distractions. Keeping the eyes closed boosts the healing potential and allows you to observe the feelings that grow inside during the practice.
- The first step is to massage your hands together for 20 to 30 seconds to stimulate circulation. The friction will cause warmth to rise from your hands, indicating that all of the nerve endings in your hands have been activated, and thus, activating each cell associated to numerous organs.
- Place your hands on your lap, and your palms facing up; attempt to calm your mind in the serenity and silence of nature to experience the tingling or pulsing feelings in your hands and body. Uphold this posture for at least 15 seconds.
- Then, with your fingers pressed in certain patterns, execute different mudras, and apply enough pressure to feel the energy flow. Gentleness is key; little is more when it comes to mudras. Remember that you cannot damage yourself if you make a mistake, so you can relax and proceed.
Our energy body governs our physical body to a large degree. Disorders develop as a result of an imbalance in energy in the different organs and their related chakras; mudras may assist balance these energy levels and prana. Yoga mudras even when looking simple, they may be a very effective therapeutic tool.
Mudras for Muladhara chakra are intended to bring this foundational energy center back into balance, which means connecting us to our roots by making us feel more grounded and stronger in whatever we face in life, while interacting successfully with others and our environment with a down-to-earth outlook.
Below are some of the most practiced and effective Mudras for Muladhara. It is important to note that these are the stone foundation mudras for Muladhara from which ones many variations of mudras developed into other similar gestures, just in the same way yoga asanas are practiced in multiple variations too.
Jnana (Gyan) Mudra
This is the activating mudra for Muladhara, or the starting gesture. It is the most common mudra practiced in yoga and meditation too. In Sanskrit, the term ‘Jnana’ means knowledge thus this mudra is also known as the physic gesture of wisdom and it is also named as Gyan mudra. While performing this mudra we redirect the flow of energy by joining the thumb with the forefinger, creating a circular loop.
Gyan mudra reduces the distractions rising in the mind. We can look at it as the psycho-neural finger lock which aids to internalize prana into our body.
Procedure: Close your eyes and settle into a meditation pose. Bend your index fingers such that the tips of your fingers meet the inner base of your thumbs. Maintain a straight and comfortable grip with your other fingers. Place your hands with palms down, on the top of your knees. Keep the mudra in place for at least five minutes.
While performing this mudra, by placing the hands on the knees activates the Muladhara chakra by activating the “hidden” or gupta nadi. This energy channel extends from the knees to the perineum along the insides of the thighs.
Chinmaya Mudra
This mudra brings us to balance and alignment with our body structure, and it makes us understand the real root of our fears and losses. It brings an awareness of those essential things we lack in our life so that we can realize them and set up our priorities driving us to get what we really need. It enables us to feel rooted, grounded and supported from within. As a result, it instills a firm sense of self-trust, it aids to trust our body and others and the world around ourselves.
Chinmaya mudra removes old and harmful rooted patterns balancing Muladhara.
Procedure: Close your eyes and settle into a meditation pose. Breath in slowly and bring your consciousness to your breath. Make a loose fist using your fingers. Form a circle by bringing the tips of the thumb and forefinger together. Place your hands on your upper thighs now. Your palm might be facing up or down. Keep the mudra in place as long as you feel comfortable with it.
For optimal results is recommended to be practiced for 45 minutes at a stretch or 3 times daily 15 minutes each. It can be done at any time, however during the early morning is preferable. This mudra should be practiced regularly.
Prithvi Mudra
Earth is also called Prithvi, and the ring finger used in this hand gesture represents the earth element. Hence, this mudra is called Prithvi mudra and is very beneficial for to bring to balance Muladhara chakra, as it provides a profound sense of calm, stability, firmness and sturdiness.
Prithvi mudra stands out as one of the most effective mudras for Muladhara.
Procedure: Close your eyes and settle into a meditation pose. Link the tips of the thumb and the ring fingers of both hands (this mudra should be practiced using both hands). Raise up the other three fingers of both hands in a relaxed manner without any tension while holding them slightly apart. Keep the mudra in place as long as you start to feel more relaxed and grounded from beneath your body.
Regular practice of this mudra strengthens your body and mind, boosts your self-confidence, and gets you rid of confusion, anxiety, fearfulness and fickle thoughts. There should be mild pressure between the touched fingers for optimal results.
Bhumi Mudra
Bhu means “Earth” in Sanskrit, while Mudra means “gesture” in Hindi. This is an Asamyukta, or “one” Hasta Mudra, in which only one hand is needed to do the practice, yet both hands may perform it. The body gets the shape of a mountain firmly rooted in the Earth in this mudra, with the roots deep in Bhumi or the Earth. This grounding hand motion is also known as Bhumi Mudra Pose because the fingers are brought to the earth, stimulating Muladhara Chakra while promoting mental and physical steadiness.
Bhumi mudra greatly helps to absorb earthy energy by intended contact with it.
Procedure: Close your eyes and settle into a meditation pose. Begin by activating the palms, rubbing them together. Bring the ring and pinky finger tips to the tip of the thumb. The index and middle fingers are kept straight. Place your index and your middle fingers on the ground, like diving into it. Keep the mudra in place at least 15 minutes.
This mudra is best performed outdoors while sitting on the ground, letting the tips of the fingers to come into touch with the Earth, allowing the body to release surplus energy that has collected inside the body and transfer it into the Earth.
Mountain Mudra
This mudra gives us energy to overcome all types of difficulties. This mudra brings us to awareness of this potential and improves our ability to let go of things. It is especially helpful when we need a “cleanup” in our life. It draws the silhouette of a mountain with the upward middle fingers.
Mountain mudra is also known as Muladhara mudra for its restorative properties.
Procedure: Close your eyes and settle into a meditation pose. The palms are facing down. Curve the little fingers and ring fingers of both hands inward and interlock them. Extend the two middle fingers and bring the tips together so that they are facing up. The index finger and thumb form two interlocked circles. Keep the mudra in place holding it slightly tightly for at least 3 minutes daily.
Through the connection of the ring and little finger, the elements earth and water connect. The circles of the index finger and thumb connect the air and fire elements. In this way we draw on the strengths of these four elements.
As we have seen practicing yoga mudras regularly is surprisingly effective by just using our hands and blending the brief practice with a quiet environment, the exercise of pranayama (breathing techniques) and particularly, alternate nostril breathing for Muladhara, and chanting and focusing on the beej sound LAM. Doing it regularly is a perfect starting point to get our Root (Muladhara) Chakra balanced and move forward to more advanced healing methods in this direction.
