 |
 |
 |
 |
Tips for Effective Mudras
Other teachers of yoga mudras suggest that three minutes of practice for a specific mudra is sufficient. So, time is a variable that you can play with. Just as a yoga practice combines a series or sequence of poses, you can also practice mudras in a similar fashion. Create a sequence of three, four or five mudras and do them in sequence, holding each mudra pose for a couple of minutes. And, it is generally a lot easier to hold a hand pose for a few minutes than most yoga poses.
You can have an impact on how effective a mudra is by conditioning your environment. This is not a lot different than having a special location for you yoga asana practice; or going to a studio that creates a positive and peaceful environment. You can use incense, music and room lighting as additional elements to your practice.
The most powerful addition to your practice of mudras will be with the use of your breath. Before you start your practice begin by inhaling and exhaling forcefully several times. This will clear your lungs of any stale air or energy. (Remember we carry around carbon dioxide in our lungs when we don’t exhale completely.) Also, try lengthening the pause that occurs both after inhaling and exhaling by a couple of seconds.
There are yoga asanas, like sitting forward bend (pascimottanasana), which help calm your mind. Similarly, when you practice hand mudras to calm yourself, assist the process by slowing down your breathing.
Try a count of six in, hold three, exhale six, hold three. On the other hand, when you are practicing a mudra to energize your mind and body, increase the rate of your breathing. You should feel your fingertips touching (when they are supposed to do so); but you shouldn’t forcefully push them together.
