Mudras are hand gestures that direct the body's flow of energy. When used wisely during pranayama, asana, and meditation, they bolster the impact the practice can have on the energy body. Hridaya mudra redirects energy that might usually dissipate from the hands, back towards the heart space, nourishing and opening the anahatta, or heart, chakra. It is a powerful tool to use when faced with grief or great stress.
The word mudra translates as attitude or gesture. The word chin comes from the word chitta, which means consciousness. So, Chin Mudra is the gesture of consciousness. In Chin Mudra the index finger represents our thinking brain or ego. It is bows inwards to meet the thumb, which represents the part of our selves that is connected to higher consciousness. Chin mudra is a gesture that we are surrendering our ego in order to connect to universal consciousness, sometimes called intuition.
Mudras are the hand gestures of Yoga. They can be practiced during meditation, asana, or pranayama to help focus the mind and open the energy centers. The lotus mudra gently encourages opening in the heart chakra.