This is a list of Yoga mudras. In

yoga Yoga (; sa, योग, lit=yoke' or 'union ) is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines which originated in ancient India and aim to control (yoke) and still the mind, recognizing a detached witness-consciou ...

, mudrās are used in conjunction with

pranayama Pranayama is the yogic practice of focusing on breath. In Sanskrit, '' prana'' means "vital life force", and ''yama'' means to gain control. In yoga, breath is associated with ''prana'', thus, pranayama is a means to elevate the '' prana'' ''sha ...

(yogic breathing exercises), generally while seated in Padmasana, Ardhasiddhasana,

Sukhasana Lotus position or Padmasana ( sa, पद्मासन, translit=padmāsana) is a cross-legged sitting meditation pose from ancient India, in which each foot is placed on the opposite thigh. It is an ancient asana in yoga, predating hatha ...

Vajrasana Vajrasana (Sanskrit for "diamond seat" or "diamond throne") may refer to: * The Vajrasana, Bodh Gaya, India where Gautama Buddha achieved enlightenment * Vajrasana (yoga) Vajrasana (), Thunderbolt Pose, or Diamond Pose, is a kneeling asana in ...

pose, to stimulate different parts of the body and mind, and to affect the flow of

prana In yoga, Indian medicine and Indian martial arts, prana ( sa2, प्राण, ; the Sanskrit word for breath, " life force", or "vital principle") permeates reality on all levels including inanimate objects. In Hindu literature, prāṇa is ...

in the body.

Hasta

Hasta mudras (hand mudras) may be conducive for meditation, and help in internalization. Many hand mudrās evolved for use in rituals, especially within tantra. Others developed as iconographical symbols for depictions of deities in statues and paintings. Others were developed for non-verbal story telling in traditional dance. In the Hevajra Tantra hand mudrās are used to identify oneself to the goddesses at different holy sites.

Māna

Māna mudras (head mudras) are an important part of Kundalini yoga, and many are important meditation techniques in their own right.

Kaya

Kaya mudras (postural mudras) combine physical postures with breathing and concentration.

Bandha

Bandha mudras (lock mudras) are a type of mudra performed on the three diaphragms (respiratory, vocal, and pelvic). They are used in conjunction with holding the breath (''kumbhaka'') during pranayama.

Adhara

Adhara mudras (perineal mudras) are performed on the

pelvic floor The pelvic floor or pelvic diaphragm is composed of muscle fibers of the levator ani, the coccygeus muscle, and associated connective tissue which span the area underneath the pelvis. The pelvic diaphragm is a muscular partition formed by the lev ...

area and often relate to harnessing sexual energy.

References

External links

*{{Commons category-inline, Mudras *

Mudras A mudra (; sa, मुद्रा, , "seal", "mark", or "gesture"; ,) is a symbolic or ritual gesture or pose in Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism. While some mudras involve the entire body, most are performed with the hands and fingers. As wel ...