Mudra: Shuni Mudra
What is a Mudra?
Mudra means “seal” or “closure” in Sanskrit. It is a symbolic or ritual gesture in Hinduism and Buddhism. While some mudras involve the entire body, most are performed with the hands and fingers. We use these gestures mostly in meditation or in pranayama practice to direct the flow of energy within the body by using the hands ( or on other ways, like applying an energy lock, a bandha which is a type of mudra as well)
Mudra and your Brain
Different areas of the hands are connected with areas in the body and the brain. So when we place our hands in yoga mudras, we stimulate different areas of the brain and create a specific energy circuit in the body. By doing this, we help generate a specific state of mind.
5 Elements*
The universe is made of five elements, and each of the five fingers is represented by one of these elements. When these five elements are not in balance, we can experience disease in the body. Mudras are one way of creating a balance between all of these elements within us.
Thumb: Fire, self-assertion, stomach, worry, the Supreme Soul, universal consciousness.
Index finger: Air, self-worth, heart chakra, mental, lungs, large intestine, depression, sadness, grief, the Individual Soul, individual consciousness.
Middle finger: Space/heaven, responsibility, throat chakra, heart, circulatory and respiratory systems, impatience/hastiness, ego, akasha, or connection
Ring finger: Earth, relationships, root chakra, liver, gall bladder, nervous system, anger, illusion
Little finger: Water, communication, second chakra, kidneys, fear, karma
* Note: this is the most commonly used way of connecting the elements, but there is another way sometimes used as well: Thumb = Space Index finger = Air Middle finger = Fire Ring finger = Water Pinky finger = Earth.
But as the above mentioned method is the most often used with mudras I use that concept.
Shuni Mudra
The thumb touches the tip of the middle finger. Bring the tip of the middle finger and thumb together, uniting the elements of fire and connection. Shuni is first and foremost a mudra of purification, and will also heighten your intuition and alertness.
This mudra symbolizes patience and discipline, and helps us generate a feeling of stability. The Shuni Mudra helps to encourage compassion, understanding and patience towards others.
It also helps to develop noble thoughts and turn negative emotions into positive ones. It is great to use if you feel yourself becoming impatient with or towards someone.
Use this mudra when you feel you need additional strength to follow through with tasks.
Benefits of Shuni Mudra:
- Turns negative emotions into positive ones
- Symbolizes patience and discipline
- Encourages compassion, understanding and patience towards others.
- Gives additional strength to do your things
- Heighten your intuition and alertness.
- Purification
- Offering relief from depression, overwhelming thoughts, and unwanted impulses.
- Calms your mental processes and allows you to persevere amidst troubling times.
- Improves the digestion of both food and ideas.
How to do Shuni Mudra:
- Bring the tip of the middle finger and thumb together
- Stretch the other two fingers out.
- Do this with both hands.
- Placing your hands on your knees with palms facing upward.
- Hold for several minutes and repeat 2-3 times throughout the day.
