Hands and fingers really fascinate me. They speak volumes of a person’s character and state of mind. It isn’t just the manicured look, accessories or dirty nails. It is how each person uses their hands to express themselves. Watching a mother stroking her child’s hair, a photographer handle his camera, a musician playing his guitar, a person chopping vegetables and a dancer describe emotions is like watching poetry in motion. The body speaks the language of the mind and our fingers create the most important punctuation marks, adding emotional energy and drama to what we communicate. Imagine if we could only have conversations with our hands tied behind our backs; it would be a bleak scenario indeed. The romance that I feel towards hands and fingers is strongly rooted in what I know of them as a yoga teacher.
Yoga devotes an entire section to how our fingers can help us heal and achieve mental and emotional equilibrium. Mudra yoga, or the yoga of gestures, describes how each finger corresponds to each of the five elements that make our body. All ailments are but a result of imbalances in these elements. Like how the electrical circuits in our walls need to be closed in order for them to power fans and lights, we are creating the same kind of circuitry with our vital energy when we hold mudras. The finger positions guide our focus to that part of us that needs our attention and focus and restores well-being. The following is one such mudra that boosts strength to the region of the chest, lungs and heart. The mudra is simple, and when practised regularly, is known to boost confidence and self-esteem.
Ganesh MudraThe left hand should be held in front of the chest with the palm facing outward.
Bring the right hand in front of the left with its palm facing inward.
Curl the fingers of both hands and clasp them together. If you have long nails, then do not tighten your grip to the point of inducing pain.
Exhale and pull your arms apart without releasing the grip. This will cause the chest muscles to tighten.
Inhale and relax your grip.
Repeat this six times.
Now reverse the position of the hands and repeat six times.
