Written By: Pavitra Sampath | Updated : March 10, 2015 6:18 PM IST
If you have been feeling stressed lately and are looking for a natural way to get rid of it, you could try using mudras as a quick and easy way to do so. A mudra is a hand gesture (or the way you put your hands together) that allows the free flow of energy in the body. A mudra also helps to apply pressure to certain acupressure points present on the hands, which in turn activates certain organs to produce the desired effect. So, to help you get rid of stress naturally, here are six mudras that can help get rid of stress.
Gyan mudra: The word Gyaan means knowledge in Hindi. This mudra is best done during Pranayam and helps the practitioner attain a higher meditative state. While performing this mudra you press your thumb and index finger together which activates the root chakra and helps calm the mind and beat stress. A perfect mudra to beat depression and stress
Steps to do this mudra: Sit in padmasana and place your hands, palm facing upwards on your lap. Now while extending your fingers bring your index finger and thumb together.
Yog mudra: This is a form of yoga practice that helps make your body and mind healthy, active and flexible. It also helps beat stress and related depression at it activates essential chakras helping you become more cheerful. This mudra is also known to strengthen prana (life energy) and helps deepen meditation. Read more about how to do this mudra.
Unmani mudra: This mudra is very helpful when it comes to concentration and meditation. When performed, it helps to calm the mind and deepen the meditative state, helping beat stress and its related disorders.
Steps to do this mudra: Sit in padmasana and concentrate on the area between your eyebrows (also known as the third eye or the Agya chakra). Try to clear the mind of any other thoughts and concentrate on this point alone.
Shaktichalini mudra: This mudra helps you overcome lethargy, depression and stress. Apart from the fact that performing this mudra helps arouse the kundalini chakra, it also helps keep all your reproductive organs healthy.
Steps to do this mudra: Sit in vajrasana and contract and expand the urinary system. Practice this 10-20 times in one sitting.
Ksepana Mudra: This mudra's main function is to help you 'let go'. A great way to allow the stressors in your life to simply wash away, this mudra helps beat depression, release pent up negative energies and toxins from the body.
Steps to do this mudra: Put your palms together, making sure that all five fingers together. Now keeping your index fingers together and bend all the other fingers such that they are intertwined (like you would make a fist). Now point this mudra downwards to see a remarkable difference.
Mushti Mudra: This is another mudra that helps in releasing pent-up emotions like suppressed anger, frustration, irritation and negative emotions. It also activates your liver, and digestive system helping you beat constipation and releasing ama from your body.
Steps to do this mudra: Clench your hands in a fist, keeping your thumb over the other fingers, and hold this asana for five to ten minutes for relief.
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