10 Basic Yoga Mudras & Their Health Benefits

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Yoga is much more than exercise for weight loss and fitness. Yoga is an ancient art that is described in our Indian scriptures. It combines the wisdom of the sages with modern science to give you many more health benefits than any other form of exercise. Yoga does not just comprise asanas or poses. There are also yoga mudras that very few people know about. These yoga mudras also have health benefits that will amaze you.

Each and every yoga mudra is very specific and has to be practised in the most perfect way. All these yoga mudras have inner meanings. For example, the gyan mudra is the commonest. It stands for knowledge and concentration. Similarly, the vayu mudra stands for 'air' and balances air related problems in the body.

All yoga mudras are hand gestures that have surprising health benefits. But you cannot practise these mudras in isolation. There is a specific time of the day to do these mudras. You also have particular sitting, standing and lying down positions in which you can practise these special hand gestures for getting all their health benefits.

Here is a list of the most basic yoga mudras and their benefits for you body.

Gyan Mudra

This is the most basic yoga mudra that stands for knowledge and concentration. You will have to do this mudra in the morning while being seated in padmasana. This mudra improves concentration, cures insomnia and helps you to manage anger problems.

Vayu Mudra

This mudra is for balancing the 'air' element of your body. This mudra can be done while sitting, standing or lying down at any time of the day. It helps to release the excess air from the body reducing chest pain due to gas.

Agni Mudra

This mudra is for balancing the 'fire' element of the body. You can do this mudra only on empty stomach early in the morning. This is the weight loss mudra; it helps to burn fats and also speeds up the process of digestion.

Varun Mudra

This yoga mudra is supposed to balance the 'water' element of the body. This mudra is for enhancing your beauty. It makes your skin glow because it makes the fluids in your body flow and keeps your skin moisturised.

Pran Mudra

This is the mudra of 'life' that can be done at any point of time during the day. This yoga gesture improves your immune system, increases the sharpness of your vision and helps you to feel energetic by fighting fatigue.

Prithvi Mudra

This mudra is to stimulate the 'earth' factor of the universe into your system. The benefits of this mudra are that it improves blood circulation, increases patience and also helps to strengthen your bones and muscles.

Shunya Mudra

The zero or 'shunya' mudra is specially for your ears. This hand gesture helps to reduce earaches and also helps people who are going deaf due to age or disease.

Surya Mudra

Surya mudra basically commemorates the energy of the sun. You must do it early in the morning to harness the sun's energy.

Ling Mudra

This mudra imitates the symbol of the male phallus and that is why it is supposed to produce heat in the body. This mudra increases your libido and helps to get rid of cold related health problems.

Apaan Mudra

This is a very versatile mudra that benefits almost every one. The apaan mudra cleanses your body of toxic water. It helps to deal with urinary problems and also makes bowel movements regular.