Hasta Mudras are hand gestures or seals of energy that can help us to focus our attention and draw forth an inner attitude. According to Georg Feuerstein, the word Mudra comes from the root word Mud, meaning ‘Delight’.
Here are 3 mudras you can try, one after the other, as an everyday ritual that helps cement and clarify your direction and remind you of what really matters to you. Try it, and maybe a ripple of delight will even emerge.
1. Offering
Pushpaputa Mudra - A Handful of Flowers
Credit: Brooke ColmanHow to do it:
- Place your palms face up in front of your body, around navel height.
- Bring the outer little finger edges to touch and allow the other fingers to softly curl.
- Close your eyes and imagine some beautiful blooms resting in the Mudra.
- Acknowledge that this intention is an offering.
You might also like to contemplate what you wish to offer your intention to. An example would be…'For the highest good of yourself, your community and your environment.'
2. Clarifying Your Intention
Abhaya Hridaya – Courageous Heart
Credit: Brooke ColmanHow to do it:
- With your hands in front of your body, start by crossing the wrists.
- Once crossed, hook the little fingers together but miss the ring finger.
- Then continue and hook the middle finger and lastly the the index finger.
- Now lightly connect the tip of the ring finger and the thumb together.
- Draw the Mudra close to the heart and wing the elbows outwards.
Close your eyes and dive your awareness into the centre of the heart. Ask your heart, "what deeply matters to me as a human?" Or, "what would I like to welcome right now?"
In yoga, the heart holds great importance and is often considered a source of wisdom and intuition.
3. Visualize
Padme Mudra – Lotus
Credit: Brooke ColmanHow to do it:
- Bring the palms flat together in front of your chest.
- Then, keeping the wrists close and the thumbs and little fingers connected, splay the other finger tips out and away from each other.
- Close your eyes and visualize what your intention looks like in its full expression.
See yourself or your friend in this perfect state of full radiant health or peace. Are there colours, textures or scents you can add to make this more vivid? Just like the lotus flower, let your intention unfold and blossom.
These are my recommended mudras to set your intention and help get clarity on your life purpose and the direction you're taking in the path you've chosen. How do you set your intention as you start your day and/or your yoga practice? Feel free to share in the comments below.
Image credit: Brooke Colman
