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1 MU DRAS. yoga . in your HANDS. GERTRUD HIRSCHI. SAMUEL WEISER , INC. York Beach, Maine First published in 20(H) hy SAMUEL W E I S E R , INC. Box 612. York Beach, Maine 03910-0612. English translation copyright 2000 Samuel Weiser, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any informalion stor- age or retrieval system, without permission in writing from Samuel Weiser, Inc. Reviewers may quote brief passages. First published in German as Mudras: Yqga mil dem Ifleinen Finger, by Herman Bauer Verlag, Freiburg im Breslau, Germany. Copyright 1998 Verlag H e r m a n n Veriag KG.

2 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Hirschi, Gertrud. [Mudras. ]. Mudras : yoga in your hands / Gertrud Hirsch . p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 1-57863-139-4 (pbk : alk. paper). 1. yoga , Hatha. [.Title. '046 dc2l 99-087 HI. VG. Translated by Christine M, G r i m m Typeset in 11/14 Granjon Cover and text design by Kathryn Sky-Peck Illustations by Ito Joyuatmojo PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 07 06 05 04 03 02 01 00. 7 6 5 4 3 2. T h e paper used in this publication meets all the minimum requirements of the American National Standard for Information Sciences Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials (RI997). CONTENTS. Specific Mudras ix Acknowledgments xi Dear Reader xiii Part One EXPLORING THE MUDRA CONCEPT.]

3 What Are Mudras? 2. Origin of Mudras 5. Breathing, Visualization, and Affirmations to Enhance the Mudras 13. Mudras and Music 16. Mudras and Color 18. Using Mudras to Heal Physical Complaints 20. Mudras and Healing Emotional Problems 22. Mudras and Other Hand Therapies 25. My Personal Experiences 40. Mudras and meditation 43. Mudras for Recharging Energy Reserves 43. Mudras for Coming to Terms with the Past 44. Mudras for Improving Relationships 44. vi CONTENTS. Mudras for Solving Everyday Problems .45. Mudras for Building Character 46. Mudras for Planning the Future 47. Mudras for Connecting with the Divine 47. Meditations for Each Finger 49. meditation 1: Thumb Energy 50. meditation 2: Index Finger Energy 51.

4 meditation 3: Middle Finger Energy 52. meditation 4: Ring Finger Energy 54. meditation 5: Little Finger Energy .55. Part Two THE MUDRAS. Mudras for the Body, Mind, and Soul 58. Spiritual Mudras 143. The Mudras of Hatha yoga 166. Part Three PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS. Mudra Exercises 176. How to Create Your Own Mudra 190. What a Mudra Cannot Do 191. CONTENTS vii Appendices A: Nutrition 194. B: There is an Herb for Every Malady 198. C: Chinese Five Element Theory 200. D: Some Words About the Chakras 204. A Closing Word 207. Bibliography 211. Index . 215. About the Author 224. SPECIFIC MUDRAS. Abhaya Mudra, 152 Dynamic Mudra, 138. Agochari Mudra, 168 Ganesha Mudras, 60. Akashi Mudra, 169 Garuda Mudra, 102.

5 Apan Mudra, 74 Hakini Mudra, 112. Apan Vayu Mudra, 90 Jnana Mudra and Chin Mudra, 139, Ardha Cakrasana, 186 167. Asthma Mudra, 68 Joint Mudra, 132. Atmanjali Mudra, 144 Kaki Mudra, 170. Back Mudra, 92 Kalesvara Mudra, 134. Bhramara Mudra, 118 Kartari Mudra, 189. Bhuchari Mudra, 167 Ksepana Mudra, 98. Bhudi Mudra, 88 Kubera Mudra, 94. Bhujangani Mudra, 169 Kundalini Mudra, 96. Bhumisparsha Mudra, 156 Limber-Up and Warm-Up Bronchial Mudra, 66 Exercises, 177. Detoxification Mudra, 122 Linga Mudra, 72. Dharmachakra Mudra, 158 Lotus Mudra, 150. Dhyani Mudra, 146 Maha Bandha, 172. SPECIFIC MUDRAS. Abhaya Mudra, 152 Dynamic Mudra, 138. Agochari Mudra, 168 Ganesha Mudras, 60. Akashi Mudra, 169 Garuda Mudra, 102.

6 Apan Mudra, 74 Hakini Mudra, 112. Apan Vayu Mudra, 90 Jnana Mudra and Chin Mudra, 139, Ardha Cakrasana, 186 167. Asthma Mudra, 68 Joint Mudra, 132. Atmanjali Mudra, 144 Kaki Mudra, 170. Back Mudra, 92 Kalesvara Mudra, 134. Bhramara Mudra, 118 Kartari Mudra, 189. Bhuchari Mudra, 167 Ksepana Mudra, 98. Bhudi Mudra, 88 Kubera Mudra, 94. Bhujangani Mudra, 169 Kundalini Mudra, 96. Bhumisparsha Mudra, 156 Limber-Up and Warm-Up Bronchial Mudra, 66 Exercises, 177. Detoxification Mudra, 122 Linga Mudra, 72. Dharmachakra Mudra, 158 Lotus Mudra, 150. Dhyani Mudra, 146 Maha Bandha, 172. Maha Mudra, 184 Shanti Mudra, 171. Maha Sacral Mudra, 126 Shivalinga, 136. Mahasirs Mudra, 110 Shunya Mudra, 82. Makara Mudra, 128 Side Stretch, 182.

7 Matangi Mudra, 108 Suchi Mudra, 104. Message of Shiva, 178 Surabhi Mudra, 78. Mudra of the Inner Self, 148 Tadagi Mudra, 183. Mukula Mudra, 130 Tse Mudra, 114. Mushti Mudra, 106 Twist in the Seated meditation Naga Mudra, 162 Posture, 181. Pascimottanasana, 185 Ushas Mudra, 62. Pashini Mudra, 187 Uttarabodhi Mudra, 120. Pran Mudra, 70 Vajra Mudra, 116. Prithivi Mudra, 84 Vajrapradama Mudra, 160. Pushan Mudra, 64 Varada Mudra, 154. Pushpaputa Mudra, 164 Varuna Mudra, 86. Rudra Mudra, 100 Vayu Mudra, 80. Shakti Mudra, 124 Viparita Karani Mudra, 188. Shambavi Mudra, 168 yoga Mudra, 179. Shankh Mudra, 76 Yoni Mudra, 171. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. person can never really complete a work like this alone. In order to write this book, I relied on the contri- butions of many other people.

8 Many people helped me in the process of gaining knowledge and perception about mudras in gen- eral; and many others helped me with my research on the effects of work- ing with mudras. There are many people I would like to thank for their help in this. Within a few months of beginning this project I "coinciden- tally" met people who were involved with the mudras either on a scientif- ic and/or practical basis. They had been successfully using mudras for years and generously offered their knowledge for my use. In addition, some of my yoga students tested the mudras and confirmed the findings. From the bottom of my heart, I would like to thank those who helped me. I sincerely thank Kim da Silva for permitting me to use some of his mudras, which have also helped me personally.

9 Moreover, I would like to thank him for his suggestions and additions. Thanks as well to Elisabeth Steudler for her tips on herbs. Her knowledge, enthusiasm, and love of plants made my heart feel warm and wide. I thank Ito Joyoatmojo, who drew more than 100 hands. The pictures of the hands on pages 38 and 39 are from G. Hiirlimann's Handlesen (Wettsbilt). Many thanks also to Erika Schuler-Konietzny, for her help with my original manuscript. DEAR READER. ith this book, I would like to give you and your loved ones (even people who are currently confined to their beds) a practical aid in healing both minor and major complaints. Mudras: yoga in Your Hands is my fourth book, and four is the number for rest, stability, and order.

10 This is why I originally wanted to bring a book about rest and meditation into our loud world. In Basic yoga for Everybody, my third book (and the first translated into English), I presented a few mudras (the special finger or hand positions) for intensifying meditation ;. and then my German publisher requested that I write a book solely on the topic of mudras. This suggestion suited me quite well, since the very nature of mudras is repose, silence, and peace. I will even dare to claim that most health disorders, whether on the physical or the mental-emotional level, develop from a lack of inner and outer repose and/or too much stress or worry. Since I personally am all too well acquainted with both outer and inner unrest (and have developed some strategies against it with the help of the mudras) I can consider myself healthy and happy today, in both the physical and the mental- emotional sense.