Mudra Defined

What Is a Mudra?

Mudra translates from Sanskrit as "seal," "gesture," or "mark." In yoga practice, mudras are specific positions—usually of the hands and fingers, but sometimes of the whole body—that are believed to influence the flow of prana (life force energy) and create particular states of mind.

You've likely done mudras without realizing it. When you bring your palms together at your heart for namaste, that's anjali mudra. When you rest your hands on your knees in meditation with thumb and index finger touching, that's chin mudra or gyan mudra. These gestures aren't random—each one has a specific purpose and effect.

Mudras appear throughout yoga, Hindu worship, Buddhist meditation, and Indian classical dance. They're a language of gesture—a way of communicating with the subtle body and focusing the mind through physical form.

Common Mudras in Yoga

While hundreds of mudras exist across traditions, these are the ones you're most likely to encounter in yoga class:

How Mudras Work

The traditional explanation for how mudras work involves the subtle body—the network of energy channels (nadis) and centers (chakras) through which prana flows. By positioning the hands in specific ways, practitioners redirect or seal energy, creating particular effects.

A more accessible way to understand mudras: the hands are extraordinarily sensitive and densely mapped in the brain. When you create a specific hand position, you're engaging a significant portion of neural real estate. The gesture becomes a form of embodied focus—a way of anchoring attention through physical form.

When the thumb (fire) touches the index finger (air) in gyan mudra, for example, it's said to stimulate knowledge and wisdom by connecting individual consciousness (air) with universal will (fire).

Types of Mudras

While hand mudras (hasta mudras) are most common in yoga class, the tradition includes several categories:

• Hasta Mudras — Hand and finger gestures (most common)
• Mana Mudras — Head mudras involving eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and lips
• Kaya Mudras — Postural mudras involving the whole body
• Bandha Mudras — Lock mudras combining bandhas with mudras
• Adhara Mudras — Perineal mudras (more advanced practices)

In most yoga classes, you'll only encounter hasta mudras and occasionally mana mudras like shambhavi mudra (gazing at the third eye point).

Using Mudras in Practice

Here's how to incorporate mudras into your practice:

During Meditation

Gyan mudra or dhyana mudra are traditional choices. Rest your hands on your knees or in your lap, and let the gesture anchor your attention. When the mind wanders, return to awareness of the mudra as well as the breath.

During Pranayama

Certain breath practices use specific mudras. Vishnu mudra—folding the index and middle fingers to the palm while using the thumb and ring finger to alternate nostril breathing—is common in nadi shodhana (alternate nostril breathing).

During Asana

Some poses incorporate mudras. Anjali mudra appears in mountain pose and tree pose. Some teachers cue mudras during seated or standing poses to add a layer of energetic focus.

For Specific Intentions

Different mudras support different intentions. Need grounding? Try prithvi mudra (thumb to ring finger). Need energy? Try prana mudra (thumb to ring and pinky). Experiment to find what resonates.

Mudras Beyond Yoga

Mudras appear throughout Indian culture:

• Classical dance — Bharatanatyam and other dance forms use elaborate hand gestures to tell stories
• Hindu worship — Specific mudras accompany rituals and prayers
• Buddhist meditation — Buddha statues display mudras indicating different teachings or states
• Iconography — Deities are depicted with characteristic mudras that reveal their nature

When you practice mudras in yoga, you're participating in a language of gesture that spans millennia and cultures—a reminder that the body itself can be a vehicle for meaning and transformation.