Mudras: yoga in your hands

242 Pages·2017·5.376 MB·English

by  Grimm, Christine M.;Hirschi, Gertrud;Joyoatmojo , Ito

H
I M U D R A S
R
The Calming Power and Positive Effects of
S
C
HAN D YOGA H
I
Y O G A I N Y O U R H A N D S
M
udras—also playfully called “finger power A simple technique to achieve lasting health,
points”—are yoga positions for your hands and fingers.
They can be practiced while sitting, lying down, M happiness, and inner peace
standing, or walking, at any time and place.
GERTRUD HIRSCHI
U
Schooled in the traditional knowledge of this Eastern art of healing,
well-known Swiss yoga teacher Gertrud Hirschi shows how these easy
D
techniques can recharge personal energy reserves and improve
quality of life. These mysterious healing gestures can calm the stress,
R
aggravations, and frustrations of everyday life. Readers will learn how to:
• Apply these simple exercises to prevent illness and support the
A
healing of a great variety of physical and emotional problems.
• Use mudras to promote spiritual development. S
• Additionally intensify the effect with breathing exercises,
affirmations, visualizations, herbs, nutrition, music, and colors.
Also included are several full-body mudras and exercises
to enhance any meditation and yoga practice.
www.redwheelweiser.com
ISBN: 978-1-57863-139-1 U.S. $16.95
M U D R A S

M U D R A S
Y O G A I N Y O U R H A N D S
A simple technique to achieve lasting health,
happiness, and inner peace
GERTRUD HIRSCHI
This edition published in 2016 by Weiser Books, an imprint of
Red Wheel/Weiser, llc
With offices at:
65 Parker Street, Suite 7
Newburyport, MA 01950
www.redwheelweiser.com
Copyright © 2000 by Gertrud Hirschi
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted
in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, re-
cording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in
writing from Red Wheel/Weiser, llc. Reviewers may quote brief passages. Previous-
ly published in 1998 in German as Mudras: Yoga mit dem kleinen Finger by Herman
Bauer Verlag, Freiburg im Brelau, Germany.
ISBN: 978-1-57863-139-1
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Hirschi, Gertrud.
[Mudras. English]
Mudras : yoga in your hands / Gertrud Hirschi.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
isbn 1-57863-139-4 (pbk : alk. paper)
1. Yoga, Hatha. I. Title.
RA781.7.H57713 2000
613.7’046—dc21 99-087141
Translated by Christine M. Grimm
Cover design by Jim Warner
Cover photograph Shutterstock © nito
Text design by Kathryn Sky-peck
Illustrations by Ito Joyoatmojo
Printed in the United States of America
BP
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Mudras_Front Matter.indd 2 11/23/15 8:41 AM
CONTENTS
j
Specific Mudras . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ix
Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xi
Dear Reader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xiii
Part One
EXPLORING THE MUDRA CONCEPT
What Are Mudras? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Origin of Mudras . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Breathing, Visualization, and Affirmations to Enhance the Mudras . . . . .13
Mudras and Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Mudras and Color . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Using Mudras to Heal Physical Complaints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Mudras and Healing Emotional Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Mudras and Other Hand Therapies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
My Personal Experiences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
Mudras and Meditation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Mudras for Recharging Energy Reserves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Mudras for Coming to Terms with the Past . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
Mudras for Improving Relationships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
vi C O N T E N T S
Mudras for Solving Everyday Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
Mudras for Building Character . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
Mudras for Planning the Future . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47
Mudras for Connecting with the Divine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47
Meditations for Each Finger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
Meditation 1: Thumb Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
Meditation 2: Index Finger Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51
Meditation 3: Middle Finger Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52
Meditation 4: Ring Finger Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
Meditation 5: Little Finger Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
Part Two
THE MUDRAS
Mudras for the Body, Mind, and Soul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
Spiritual Mudras . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .143
The Mudras of Hatha Yoga . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .166
Part Three
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
Mudra Exercises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .176
How to Create Your Own Mudra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .190
What a Mudra Cannot Do . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .191
C O N T E N T S vii
Appendices
A: Nutrition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .194
B: There is an Herb for Every Malady . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .198
C: Chinese Five Element Theory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .200
D: Some Words About the Chakras . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .204
A Closing Word . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .207
Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .211
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .215
About the Author . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .224

SPECIFIC MUDRAS
j
Abhaya Mudra, 152 Dynamic Mudra, 138
Agochari Mudra, 168 Ganesha Mudras, 60
Akashi Mudra, 169 Garuda Mudra, 102
Apan Mudra, 74 Hakini Mudra, 112
Apan Vayu Mudra, 90 Jnana Mudra and Chin Mudra, 139,
Ardha Cakrasana, 186 167
Asthma Mudra, 68 Joint Mudra, 132
Atmanjali Mudra, 144 Kaki Mudra, 170
Back Mudra, 92 Kalesvara Mudra, 134
Bhramara Mudra, 118 Kartari Mudra, 189
Bhuchari Mudra, 167 Ksepana Mudra, 98
Bhudi Mudra, 88 Kubera Mudra, 94
Bhujangani Mudra, 169 Kundalini Mudra, 96
Bhumisparsha Mudra, 156 Limber-Up and Warm-Up
Bronchial Mudra, 66 Exercises, 177
Detoxification Mudra, 122 Linga Mudra, 72
Dharmachakra Mudra, 158 Lotus Mudra, 150
Dhyani Mudra, 146 Maha Bandha, 172