Prana Mudra (life force seal): Introduction, Steps, Benefits, Precautions, Expert Tips & Alterations

Introduction of Prana Mudra

Prana in Hindi is defined as life. But in Sanskrit it is the term for the life force that resides in our body. According to Hatha Yoga, the five Vayu: Apana, Vyana, samana, Udana, and Prana are required for the balance of life. Of these, prana has the greatest importance and through the simple practice of prana mudra you can easily activate and charge the life force within you. This mudra is a hand gesture signifying a spirit of life. You must maintain a balance in all energies and prana has significant importance. It is an asana or mudra that does not require a precise time to perform. However, performing this asana in isolation is optional. It is better to do it in a quiet room to awaken our senses.

Steps of Prana Mudra

1. Perform prana mudra using both hands.
2. The tips of the little finger and the ring finger are to be connected to the thumb. The rest of all fingers are in a stretched position, keeping them straight.
3. Strengthen your spine, head and back in an aligned position.
4. Prana Mudra alters a person’s energy levels, making you fit for conscious breathing.
5. While performing the mudra, you need to breathe deeply and regularly.
6. Breathe in and out at the same time.
7. While performing the mudra, a person can chant like this while inhaling and humming while exhaling.
8. It’s difficult at first to sing and breathe at the same time, but with practice you can be perfect.
9. Repeat the inhalation and exhalation twenty to thirty times at the same time.
10. Watch your mind now.
11. You will feel as if your body is floating in a certain situation.
12. Many people even experience instant results from the mudra.

Benefits of Prana Mudra

• The Mudra helps you overcome chronic fatigue, exhaustion and endurance. Boosts your immune system which improves ability to fight disease.
• Improves your body’s metabolism, which even aids in the digestive process.
• It helps the body extract certain essential vitamins and nutrients from the food you eat.
• When you are fasting, practicing prana mudra helps maintain energy levels.
• Helps improve painful sensations, muscle spasms and weakness in the legs.
• Improves blood circulation in a person’s body dry eyes, poor eyesight, water discharge from the eyes.
• Older adults who find it difficult to perform yoga can practice this natural hand movement prana mudra to get rid of negative feelings like fear, tension, nervousness, anger, and fear.
• It is meant to replace them all with self-confidence, mental clarity, inner stability, trust, joy, zeal and happiness.
• It improves concentration and thus brings a better meditation experience.
• With regular practice of Prana Mudra, you will feel a vibration in your body. So, practicing the mudra during the meditation process will sustain your meditation experience and spiritual awakening.
• Helps eliminate deficiencies in vitamins A, B, D, C, E and K. Improves your mind’s regulatory powers, which helps to cope with unregulated habits. Reduces nervousness and improves self-confidence.
• This mudra will help you get rid of chronic diseases and general weakness.
• Helps us to manage emotions like anger, tension, pride, envy, joy etc.
• You can also do prana mudra for eye problems. However, people with visual impairments should do this mudra every 15 to 30 minutes. It helps improve eyesight, especially if you wear glasses.
• The Mudra is an important posture for healing. It increases your energy level.
• Also, it helps in restoring the circulation of prana shakti in your body. You can try performing it to improve the circulation of energy levels in the body. You should do this mudra if your body is feeling low on energy. It would increase energy levels and make you feel lighter.

Precautions to be taken

• Do not practice prana mudra when you are suffering from Rhinorrhea.
• Do not perform this mudra if you have back problems.
• Be careful while practicing prana mudra. It would help if you learn it properly.
• Don’t press your fingertips too hard. You need the gentle pressure.
• Perform prana mudra in Padmasana pose for maximum benefit.
• It is a complementary therapy, not a permanent or alternative medical treatment. Breastfeeding mothers should only practice this mudra after consulting a yoga expert.

Reference

• https://www.rishikeshyogisyogshala.org/prana-mudra/#:~:text=Prana%20Mudra%20helps%20you%20to,even%20aids%20the%20digestion%20process.
• https://www.artofliving.org/in-en/yoga/yoga-poses/pran-mudra
• https://www.rishikeshyogisyogshala.org/prana-mudra/

FAQs

For how much time one can perform prana mudra?

Perform prana mudra in your regular practice for at least 30 minutes. It will bring you maximum benefit.

What other names are there for prana mudra?

• Life Energy Mudra
• Pitta-Nashak Mudra
• Energizing hand Yoga
• Kapha-Kaarak Mudra

What Are the Physiological Effects of Prana Mudra?

The five primary components of the human body are air, fire, space, earth, and water. You will live a healthy, disease-free life as long as these factors are in harmony. It is a hand motion used in the yoga technique. The aim of this mudra is to stimulate your body’s least active areas. Our fingertips carry flow of energy. One or more fingers come into touch with our thumb as we make this mudra. A flow of energy is produced inside the body by this hand motion. Through this flow prana starts to circulate. All five fundamental components, which are represented by the fingers, are in equilibrium.

What are the mahabhutas are involved in prana mudra?

1. Agni (Fire)
2. Jala (Water)
3. Prithvi (Earth)

What is the relation in between the mahabhutas and fingers?

Each finger represents a specific mahabhutas such as:

• The ring finger represents the prithvi
• The little finger represents the jala
• The thumb represents the Agni