Hasta Mudras or hand gestures, hand locks are energetic locks. In Sanskrit, hasta means “hand” and “mudra” means “gesture”, “seal”, “stamp”. So, hasta mudras are hand gestures that seal the energy flow in our body in a particular way and direct it towards the way we want it to go, thus positively act on our mood or make subtle mental and physical changes in our energy body.  In Hatha Yoga, there are 25 mudras but they include body and eye mudras as well as hand mudras. Here I will only touch on hand mudras.

Although at first glance, VAYU mudra seems similar to the Jnana mudra, it is different in executing it and meaning. In Vayu you connect the thumb to the knuckle of the index finger, as opposed to the fingertip. Press down on the index finger to your level of comfort (hence you’ll often see images of thumb being positioned differently in order to reach the knuckle of the index finger comfortably) ; this gesture is intended to relax not strain the joint.

VAYU loosely translates as ‘wind’ or subtle AIR. VAYU regulates mental and physical imbalances is air within the body – it regulates air flow, VATA imbalances (read more on Ayurveda here). For example, an unsettled stomach or an unsettled mind, when we can usually feel when something isn’t quite right. Turning to diet and exercise may be the first things we think of when trying to ‘fix’ something, but often the most helpful answers lie in the areas we least question. What if a feeling of fatigue or anxiety, low moods or scattered thinking, digestive issues or bloating weren’t just about what you ate for dinner last night or whether you’re taking the right supplements? What if they were about the ability to pause and bring awareness to right now? So often we might feel ‘off’ because we’ve neglected the ability to listen to ourselves, and have strayed too far from the present moment (i.e. the only moment in which we can really have some control over our decisions and actions). When moments like this arise, mudras can serve as a valuable tool for directing the mind’s attention and therefore the energy of our whole being in a positive way.

For optimal results, do your Pranayama exercises while holding this mudra.