Therapeutic Mudras

Like Yoga, Mudras are boon to mankind. The ancient sciences of Mudras are greatest and finest gifts of India to the world.

The science of Mudras, a part of Yoga, is based on the fundamental principles of life....

Five Elements- Akash(space),Vayu(air),Agni(fire),Jal(water) and Prithvi(earth)

Five Pranas- Prana, Udana, Samana, Apana,Vyana and 

Three Doshas- Vata, Pitta, Kapha 

Mudras are mainly performed as gestures by fingers, hand positions and also in combination with Asana, Pranayama, Bandha and techniques involving eye movements.

The Kuarnava Tantra mentions about this Mudra--"Mud" meaning Joy and "Dravya" meaning to draw forth the "sat chit ananda" which is latent in all of us.

The finger tips contain large number of Meissners Corpuscles and contain large number of tactile receptors. Human thumb is connected with brain by Radial and Median sensory nerves, Index, middle and half of the ring fingers by Median nerve and half of the ring and small fingers by Ulner nerve.So when you combine different fingers in relation with thumb, for different purposes they relay signal of different amplitude and frequency by the concerned sensory nerves to specific sensory reception centers in Brain. Such signals produce different bio effects depending on the signal strength and frequencies.

When we perform Mudra the energy that is emitted out of our finger tips is arrested and redirected to certain parts of the Brain centers and from where the proper breathing directs it to parts of the body as per the Mudra. This is the scientific basis of the Mudra.

While performing the Mudra combining the fingertip with the Thumb tip subtle sensation of vibration is felt. This proves presence of electromagnetic power flowing in the body.

Finger           Element

Thumb             Fire

Index               Air

Middle            Space

Ring                Earth

Little               Water

IMPORTANT GUIDELINES:

·                     Touching the Tip of the finger to the Thumb balance the element represented by the finger.

·                     Touching the Tip of the finger to the base of the Thumb decreases the element represented by the finger.

·                     Touching the Tip of the Thumb to the base of the finger increases the element represented by the finger.

Suitable Dietary changes will also reinforce the benefits of Mudras.

As Mudras are commonly known to all of you, I would briefly mention about certain Mudras which I felt have proved beneficial for my students and as mentioned in book "Mudras and Health Perspectives" authored by Suman.K.Chiplunkar. Author has mentioned in depth about the Mudras which common persons can practice and greatly benefit out of it.

 FOR GENERAL WELL BEING-

Six Mudras are to be practiced everyday 10 mins each Apan, Pran, Vayu, Dhyan.

·                     If used as Therapy then specific Mudras for 50 mins followed by Pran Mudra 10 minutes. If time constraint is there then practice 3 times a day for 15 minutes each followed by 5 minutes Pran Mudra.  Therapeutic Mudras like Surya Mudra Mudra should not be performed for more than 15 minutes at a time.

·                     Unlimited Time Practice-Pran, Apaan, Prithvi, and jnana Mudras.

·                      Shankha Mudra

•      Linga Mudra 

            

                                                           Problems                                                              Mudras

v    Stress	Jnana Mudra(tips of the index and thumb)
v   Anger, fear, sorrow	Akash Mudra(tips pf the middle and thumb)
v   Inflammation, fever, skin diseases, osteoporosis, stomach acidity, burning sensation in eyes	Prithvi Mudra(tips of the ring and thumb)
v   Dry cough,dry skin(psoriasis) ,osteoarthritis, cramps, dry eyes, pimples, sunstroke	Varun Mudra(tip of the little and thumb)
v    Blood pressure high or low	Vyan Mudra(tips of both index and middle with the tip of thumb)
v    Constipation, piles, flatulence, healthy teeth, diabetes	Apaan Mudra(tips of middle and ring with the tip of thumb)
v   Increases will power and compliments    other mudras in healing	Pran Mudra    (tips of ring and little with the tip of thumb)
v   Parkinsons, sciatica, cervical pain, knee pain	Vayu Mudra(15 mins +varun mudra15 mins+ pran mudra 15 mins)(vayu –tip of the index at the base of thumb)
v   For palpitation, To prevent heart attack	Apaan Vayu Mudra(both apaan and vayu together)
Gout	Vayu mudra and pran mudra
v   Convulsion	Vayu mudra 15 mins daily
v   Earache while flight take off landing, travel sickness, vertigo	Shoonya Mudra(tip of the middle at the base of thumb)
v   General illness	Shoonya Vayu Mudra
v   Cholesterol, low body temperature, absence of sweat ,increases metabolism	Surya Mudra(tip of the ring at the base of thumb)
v    Swelling in any part of body, watery eyes, hyper acidity	Jalodhar nashak Mudra(tip of the little at the base of thumb)
v   Kidney problems	Kidney Mudra(tips of ring and little fingers at the base of thumb)
v   Sinusitis, cold, asthma, bronchitis, obesity	Linga Mudra(15mins + surya Mudra 15mins) see pic
v   For thyroid gland and for children height to be increased , for allergies caused by dust and smoke, after paralytic attack	Shankha Mudra(15 mins) see pic

In short the most astonishing and wish fulfilling part of us is, hand that represents five elements. The Yogis discovered that the whole creation is composed of five elements as mentioned above and Human structure is also miniature form of the Universe and is also composed of same five elements.

Therefore they concluded that the secret of good health depends on balance of elements within the body and any imbalance leads to diseases of body and mind.

For more details about therapy please go through our website "yogatherapy4all.com"

                  http://wizpert.com/PremaNagesh(any queries contact online)

                                                     HARI OM TAT SAT

YOGA FOR ARTHRITIS

Arthritis is the inflammation of the synovial joints of the body and is one of the most common of all disabling diseases. Arthritis is a crippling degenerative process which can eventuate in irreversible destruction of the joint. The condition is characterized by pain, swelling, redness and heat and loss of function in one or more joints. Those most affected are knees, hips, and ankles, which are large weight bearing joints and small joints such as fingers too.

In science of Yoga the arthritis is considered as one symptom of a pranic malfunction which begins early in person's life.

Yoga offers a way to arrest this process. In fact in the later stages yogic practices can reduce drug dependency, maximize mobility and make the life more tolerable and acceptable. Remarkable restorations of functions and vastly improved outlook on life have been obtained in severely crippled patients who follow daily yoga program with determination.

Forms of Arthritis:

Acute Arthritis:  It is a common symptom of many illnesses and infections, such as cold, flu, fever, diarrhea as viral or bacterial toxins liberated into the blood stream during the illness ready to accumulate in the joints. This symptom diminishes after the infection is gone.

GOUT

It's an acute arthritis which seems to be due to dietary self poisoning. Diet plays a major role in this type.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

It's a kind of joint degeneration occurs in young and middle age people.

It's frequently triggered by emotional shock or sudden introduction of foreign substances in the circulation due to may be powerful drug or acute infection.

Osteoarthritis  This is seen in middle and old age especially those who are overweight, have a heavy diet and avoid exercise.

A number of factors including mental, emotional stress and faulty lifestyle and diet are jointly responsible for upsetting the balance central controlling mechanisms in the brain and endocrine system.

Asanas: Before commencing on Asana the person should dip his leg in warm saline water to encourage circulation.

Since the person affected can't or shouldn't stand for long hours, so he should not hold the posture for long counts. He can hold or maintain the posture for not more than 10 secs each and repeat more times and in a day too. One thing arthritic patients should remember that they have to keep their joints active so repetitions in day are important.

Karma yoga is as much a part of sadhana of the arthritic individual as asana and pranayama. This will help the individual to keep moving all his joints and independent throughout their life.

STANDING POSTURES

1. Greeva sanchalan(Neck movements)

·         While inhaling gently take  your neck back and while exhaling let your neck come to the initial position. Don’t take chin down. Then turn toward right then left, this makes one round. Hold each posture for not more than 5 secs. Repeat 3 times

   

2. Skanda sanchalan(Shoulder movements)

·         Place your fingers on your shoulders and rotate your arms slowly. Inhale while raising your arms up and arms touching your ears and exhale while getting it down. Repeat it 3 times each side.

3. Parvatasana(mountain)

·         Legs near to each other, while inhaling raise your arms above your head.

        Exhale your breathe and interlock your fingers, palm facing upward direction and then inhale and raise your feet up on your toes exhale and practice normal breathing.

4. Trikonasana(triangle)

·         Stand with your legs near to each other. While inhaling raise your left arm and keep it straight beside your ear exhale your breath and bend right side. Repeat the same with the other side.

5. Uthita Trikonasana(extended triangle)

·         Keep your legs 2 feet away from each other. While inhaling raise your arms up in line with the shoulder, while exhaling your breathe, touch your right ankle with your right hand, don’t bend your knees. Place your left hand around your waist so as to relax your neck and shoulders. Repeat the same with the other side.

6. Santula asana (balance)

·   Stand with your legs near to each other. Inhale and while exhaling bend your left leg   such that your left heel is near your buttocks, exhale and hold the left ankle with your left hand and inhale and raise your right arm up. Do normal breathing.

SITTING  POSITION

7.  Ankle movements

·         Maintain the same sitting pose on the floor (Dandasana) or on chair.Move your ankles slowly clock and anti-clock wise 10 times, and stretch your feet up and down. Feel the stretch and maintain the complete awareness on your legs esp. on knees, ankles, and thigh.

8.  Wrist movements Keep your arm forward at the shoulder level.

• Make a fist of your right hand and rotate the wrist, ensure that palm faces downward direction throughout the rotation. Make as large circle as possible.Move your wrist clock and anticlockwise 10 times.

9. Fingers stretching

• Close and open your fingers for 10 times and maintain and feel the stretch in elbows as well as in carpal area.

          10. Marjari asana(cat pose)

·         Stand on your knees slightly separated and place your arms vertically in line with the shoulder palm touching the floor. As you inhale raise your head up and get an arch on your back and stomach down, maintain it for a while. As you exhale you take your chin towards you collar bone get a hunch back on your back and contract the abdomen and pull in the buttocks. If you are suffering from cervical pain the avoid chin down.

11. Variation of Janusirshasana

·         Sit on floor with legs outstretched.  Bend the right knee and place the right heel touching the left upper thigh. Keep the left leg straight. While inhaling raise your arms up and exhaling bend side and reach your left leg with left hand and right hand around your waist such a way that shoulders are out ,back straight and twisted. Hold and repeat the same with the other leg.

SUPINE POSITION

12.  Hasta sanchalan(Movement of arms)

·         Lie down on your back legs near to each other. While inhaling rotate your arms sideways without touching it on the floor and take it above your head and place your left palm over the right palm. Stretch your arms upward direction and legs downward direction.

13. Janu sanchalan(Movement of knees)

·         Lie down on your back legs near to each other. While inhaling take your arms over your head, hold the opposite elbows and place it on the floor. Squat your legs and press your left knee over your left right foot. Same way repeat it with the other leg.

14. Paad sanchalan(Leg movements) 

·         Raise your arms keep it in line with the shoulders. Raise your left leg straight and cross it over the right leg try to keep both your legs straight. Repeat the same with the other leg.

PRONE POSITION

          15. Sahaj Hasta Bhujang asana(simple cobra pose)

·         Lie down in Makarasana. Place your elbows in front of your chest. Raise your arms vertically upward, placing your palm under your chin and look upward. Hold it for a min.

     16. Sarpasana( Snake)

·         Lie down in Makarasana. Release this pose; place your elbows in front of your chest, arms parallel to each other. Inhale and straighten your arms and try to look towards upward direction.

Once you feel improvement in your joints then you can add on more Asanas and Pranayama. You shouldn’t try any new postures without consulting the experts. You should feel better within 15 days if practiced religiously twice a day 3 hrs after light meal or in an empty stomach. You shouldn't stop practicing just because there is no pain or there is no time. You must understand that this is the way of life and should practice throughout your life.

HARI OM TAT SAT