Pranapana Mudra How to Do It & How It Works

In our group yoga classes this week we have been experimenting with Pranapana Mudra.  Prana is the ability to take in life force and positive energy and Apana is the ability to exhale and let go of what you no longer need.  This Yoga Mudra or hand gesture enhances both Prana and Apana simultaneously and is used to boost effective breathing.

How Do I Do It?

You can lie down, sit on the floor or a chair.

Essentially the right and the left hand are making different shapes and gestures.

Right Hand:  Allow the tip of the thumb to connect with the tips of the index and middle fingers.   The other fingers may lightly curl.

Left Hand: Let the tip of the thumb and the middle and forth ring fingers connect.  The others fingers gently curl.

Both hands can rest on the floor, if lying down or on the knees, or thighs, if seated.

Hold for 5 minutes.

Notice how you feel.

As you breath in fill the lungs allowing the air to flow into the abdomen, then to the ribs and then to the chest and shoulders.  As you exhale allow the breath to flow the opposite way.

How Does It Work?

Each of the fingers represent a different element:

Thumb:  Fire

Index Finger: Air

Middle Finger: Ether

Forth Finger: Earth

Little Finger: Water (not involved here)

The right hand enhances the elements air and ether allowing Prana to flow.  The fire thumb connects with the air and ether elements of the index and middle fingers.

The left hand enhances the subtle qualities of Apana and the ability to breathe out by the thumb fire element connecting to the earth element and ether element of the forth and middle fingers.

Benefits

It is said to relieve travel sickness and dizziness.

How often?

Try and repeat 4 times a day with intervals of at least 20 minutes.

Let me know how you get on.

If you would  like to read more then please check out the wonderful book, where I often get my inspiration from for class teachings:  Mudras for Modern Life by Swami Saradananda..

Faye