Mudras for Vishuddha 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 the Vishuddha chakra are important for develop a genuine connection with ourselves and our inner wisdom, our inner guru or our inner compass, so we can hear and express our true voice and walk-through life following our own path. The practice of these mudras makes you more authentic in your expression and in making the right decisions without being influenced by negativities around.
Below are some of the most practiced and effective Mudras for Vishuddha. It is important to note that these are the stone foundation mudras for Vishuddha 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.
Vishuddha Mudra
Vishuddha Mudra relates to the throat chakra of the human body. This hand gesture, which is used in yoga sequences for chakra balancing, channels the circulation of prana (vital energy throughout the body) by redirecting it. Hence, a fresh, pure and vigorous flow of energy moves down our system to regenerate it.
The Vishuddha Mudra, also known as the Throat chakra mudra, brings to balance the thyroid glands and the parathyroid glands when it is practiced regularly.
Procedure: In order to perform the Throat Mudra, one must first clasp one’s fingers within one’s palm and then press the tips of one’s thumbs against one another. The sound HAM, which is the beej mantra for the throat chakra, is sung while the hands are kept placed close to the navel. It is recommended that this be done while seated in a position that is comfortable for at least 10 minutes.
Shunya (Silence of the Void) Mudra
Shunya mudra is a relaxing hand gesture that helps to balance the akasha – space element in the body. Shunya mudra is also known as paradise mudra, and regular practice of it might help you achieve a sense of tranquility. The mudra is beneficial to persons who have a prominent Vata energy, which governs waste elimination and the nervous system. It is an excellent mudra for meditation and cleansing.
Shunya mudra unlocks our inner space from any impurity or blockage that might be preventing us from hear our inner voice. It aids in deafness due to age.
Procedure: Bend the tip of the middle finger down, contacting the base of the thumb, to perform Shunya Mudra. Gently push the thumb on the second phalanx of the middle finger while keeping the other fingers straight. It is possible to do it 2-3 times a day, at any time of day. Hold this mudra for 15 minutes each time.
Kaleshwara Mudra
Kaleswhara Mudra is a hand gesture that is used to relax the mind and gain control of one’s thoughts and emotions. This mudra honors Kaleswhara, also known as the Lord of Time. Kaleswhara Mudra therefore helps us to ponder time, death, and our actions in life, assisting us in overcoming undesirable tendencies by moving the attention from monkey mind to self-observation.
Kaleswhara mudra is a powerful and profoundly transformative hand gesture for to heal any imbalance in the throat chakra. It resets addictive and bad behaviors.
Procedure: Join the tips of your middle fingers. Bring the index finger’s first and middle joints together. Bring the thumbs together to form a heart. Curl the remaining fingers in gently and join the thumbs to the sternum. Extend the elbows to the side. Hold for 10 to 20 minutes every day to get the most benefits.
Nivedana Mudra
Nivedana also refers to dedication and reverence. The term Nivedana also means to inform something and is also known as the Listening Mudra. One should listen to other people as well as to themselves, their inner or higher Self, or God. To be able to listen you must also be able to record. Nivedana mudra helps to hear what is meant by others and record information for a more authentic communication.
Nivedana mudra helps people with communication problems such as autism. It opens up our ability to listen and express ourselves via conversations.
Procedure: The akashic finger, also known as the ether finger, is bent in Nivedana mudra. Then you wrap your thumb around the ether finger. Bowing down the space of the hand the thumb finger passes over it, revealing the fire. Alternatively, the middle finger also bows and gives a thumbs up, while the others stay calm.
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 chanting and focusing on the beej sound HAM. Doing it regularly is a perfect starting point to get our Throat (Vishuddha) Chakra balanced and move forward to more advanced or alternative healing methods in this direction.
