Did you know that yoga is not all about postures? It includes various other practices like breathing exercises, hand gestures and meditation.
Hand gestures in yoga, in fact, play a pivotal role. They are called Mudras and are known to offer a wide range of physical and mental health benefits.
One of the many hand gestures is Hakini Mudra. Simple and easy, this Mudra offers incredible health benefits, most notably for the brain. This is why it is sometimes also called the ‘Brainpower Mudra’.
Let’s learn more about Hakini Mudra, its benefits and steps to practice in this article.
What is Hakini Mudra?
Hakini Mudra is a Hasta Mudra or sacred hand gesture that is performed using just your hands. The gesture takes its name from the goddess Hakini, who is associated with the Ajna Chakra or Chakra of the mind. The Mudra is often used during traditional Yoga practices involving meditation as it is regarded as an effective gesture to channel the flow of Prana, which is the vital life force.
The Hakini Mudra is useful during meditation as it is believed to help strengthen one’s focus and control over the mind. It is also easy to incorporate into your daily Yoga routine as the Mudra is ideally practised when seated in stable sitting postures or Asanas, such as the lotus pose or Padmasana or the easy pose or Sukhasana, among others.
Health Benefits of Hakini Mudra
Hakini Mudra offers a number of health benefits through its positive impact on breathing, deepening respiration and allowing the lungs to function more efficiently. This improves the flow of oxygen to all of the organs in the body, most importantly the brain. It, therefore, has a refreshing and revitalizing effect on brain function, enhancing coordination between the left and right hemispheres of the brain. This translates primarily into mental health and brain function benefits, which include:
- Strengthens memory and the ability to retain new information
- Aside from forming and storing memories it improves the ability to recall information
- Promotes calmness and relaxation to allow for clear thinking
- Enhances concentration and focus
- Improved brain cell health due to enhanced oxygen supply to the brain
- Improved coordination between both brain hemispheres
- Strengthens neural networks in the brain
How to Practice Hakini Mudra
As noted earlier, the practice of Hakini Mudra is rather simple, but it helps to practice it using the right approach. To get started, make sure that you are in a meditative posture such as the lotus pose or the diamond pose, but most importantly you should be comfortable. To get started:
- Keep your eyes closed to help you focus completely on the gesture without other distractions.
- Be aware and focused on your breathing, not trying to breathe too hard or rapidly
- Rest your hands on the thighs or knees with the palms facing the ceiling
- Slowly begin to raise your hands also drawing them closer together so that the palms now face each other without actually touching
- Then draw them closer so that the fingertips alone come into contact with the corresponding fingers of each hand touching those of the other.
- Then slowly raise your joined hands so that the fingers are brought before your forehead
- Shift your gaze upwards to increase focus on the third eye chakra
- Place your tongue against the roof of the mouth and breathe comfortably
- Make sure that your tongue is relaxed and not tensed as your exhale
- Keep repeating the practice for as much time as you can
The flow of energy is promoted by keeping the fingertips connected, so make sure that they are touching each other throughout. The practice is known to boost brain power and memory, but for best results should be included in your Yoga practice for at least 45 minutes a day or in 3 intervals of 15 minutes each.
Takeaway
Hakini Mudra is one of the easiest hand gestures to practice every day. It offers immense health benefits, especially for the brain. Therefore, you should try to practice Hakini Mudra every day.
