Our body is made of 5 basic elements or Panch Mahabuta according to Ayurveda. When they are in balance, the body and mind are balanced as well.
Rheumatic arthritis, sciatica and various psychological disorders are some types of pain that can be managed with the help of the Air or Vayu element in our body. Practicing Vayu Mudra helps alleviate the problems concerned with the imbalance of the Air element.
What is Vayu Mudra?
Vayu Mudra in Sanskrit refers to Vayu which is the Air element and Mudra which means gesture. The Vata dosha is constituted of the air element in the body.
The index finger represents the air element, and the thumb is the seat for the fire element. Therefore fire overpowers the air elements as we fold and press the index finger under the thumb.
According to Ayurveda, there are 49 distinct types of Vayus in the body, out of which five are subsidiary, and five are vital. The five vital ones are: Prana-Vayu, Apana-Vayu, Samana-Vayu, Udana-Vayu, and Vyana-Vayu. Vayu Mudra balances the air element in the body by easing the flow of prana.
The practice of Vayu Mudra with pranayama or meditation, helps maintain the air inhaled and exhaled by creating a balance within the Nadis.
How to Practice Vayu Mudra:
Practicing Vayu Mudra is easy.
Sit in a comfortable meditative posture – Sukhasana, Vajrasana, Padmasana or you can sit on a chair. Keep your eyes closed and take deep breaths calming your mind and body and in turn stimulating the prana in the body.
Fold your index finger to touch the thumb’s base and press lightly with the thumb over the index finger. All other fingers are stretched outwards.
Place your hands on your thighs just above knees with your palms facing the sky.
Start practicing Vayu Mudra for about 5 minutes per day initially. But you can extend the time up to 45 minutes per day gradually.
Best to practice an hour after meals or early in the morning.
Benefits of Vayu Mudra:
Here is the list of some of the benefits of practicing Vayu Mudra regularly.
- Relieves Gas: Vayu Mudra helps regulate or balance the air element in the body, hence helps relieve problems of gas, flatulence, bloating, and improves digestion. This also stimulates the vagus nerve, the brain and regulates the Vata doshas.
- Alleviates Acidity: Along with Vayu toxins, harmful energies are eliminated from the body with the Vayu Mudra. It helps in effective elimination of wastes from the body and hence acidity is also reduced significantly.
- Effective for Back and Neck Pain: You will be able to reduce pain in the neck, shoulders, arms, and back by practicing Vayu Mudra as these areas are vata dominant. It helps relieve cervical spondylitis. It helps in cases of face paralysis also.
- Helps Weight Loss and Anxiety: The body produces a hormone called cortisol in response to stress that the body endures. Elevated cortisol levels in turn leads to overeating and weight gain. Vayu Mudra helps regulate the cortisol production, which in turn reduces stress and anxiety and controls weight.
- Relief from Arthritis: Excess of vata leads to osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, Gout, Parkinson’s disease etc. Vayu mudra alleviates Joint pain, helps increase flexibility and range of motion of joints. Vayu mudra helps strengthen muscles and joints, improves and strengthens the nervous system, improves blood circulation and builds immunity by improving blood circulation.
- Improves sleep: Vayu Mudra reduces fatigue and exhaustion by keeping you calm and in turn deepens your sleep.
- Vayu Mudra for Hair Growth: Vayu Mudra regulates or balances the air elements in the body, which helps promote hair growth by strengthening the roots of your hair.
- Regulates hormones: It balances hormones and functioning of endocrine glands.
Contraindication:
Do not practice if,
- You have the flu, cold, or fever.
- Your shoulders, arms, elbows, wrist, fingers are injured.
- You are under stress, exhausted or sleep deprived
- You have hypertension or cardiac issues.