Where the word comes from
The word is translated as "seal", "sign" or "gesture". Mudras are known across Indian traditions, including dance, sacred art and ritual, and each has its own meaning. In yoga they serve as gestures that help you focus and mark an intention.
For believers mudras may be religious. For someone in a studio they are more often a way to gather attention and a part of the practice's cultural heritage.
How to say it
Say MOO-druh, with the stress on the first syllable and a short, even "u" in the middle.
The names of particular mudras, such as anjali or jnana, sound unfamiliar. A teacher usually says them for you, and you do not have to repeat them aloud.
In the names of gestures the word mudra usually comes last: anjali mudra, jnana mudra. It is enough to remember that this is what the gesture is called.
What it looks like in class
The most visible mudra is palms together at the chest. It is called anjali and is used for greeting and at the end of class along with the word namaste. In seated poses the hands often rest on the knees with the thumb and index finger forming a ring.
A teacher may suggest holding your hands this way during breathing or silence. You can choose what is comfortable: palms up or down, fingers relaxed. If the position bothers your wrists or shoulders, let your hands rest loosely on your knees.
Mudras and namaste
The best-known mudra goes with greeting: a teacher may accompany it with the word "namaste" and a slight bow. Many studios open and close class this way, and taking part is voluntary.
In meditation and breathing practice you meet mudras in which the hands lie palms up or down with the fingers joined. Try them if you are curious, and do not worry if your version differs: nobody checks the precision.
Common misunderstandings
- "Each mudra surely does something." They are gestures with a symbolic meaning, not buttons, and they promise no result.
- "You must hold your fingers with effort." The position should be light, with no tension in the hands.
- "Every class has mudras." In many classes, especially dynamic ones, there are hardly any.