Apana Vayu Mudra In different yoga practices and yoga postures, you might have witnessed that there are different ways in which the palms are kept. Sometimes in Surya Namaskar, you might see that those who are practising this pose start by placing their hands in a prayer position right in front of the chest, while people who are meditating sometimes keep their fingers touched or interlocked in a particular way, keeping them on the thighs. Now, what are these actions, and are these gestures random?
It is a random thing that whatever we want we can do with our hands. The answer is no. Every gesture, every placement and even the smallest movement during any holistic practice has a name and a reason. The handwork and the positions of the fingers in the yoga poses, or healing or practices like meditation and pranayama, are known as mudras. Mudras are the sacred gestures that have a significant purpose in the practice. In this blog, we will explore one of the best mudras used in various healing practices like yoga, meditation and pranayamas. And the name of this mudra is Apana Vayu Mudra.
What is Apana Vayu Mudra?
One of the most famous Mudras practised for decades in the Indian tradition and holistic healing practices like Yoga is Apana Mudra. This is a Hasta Mudra or a hand gesture that ensures the vertical flow of Prana energy. Now, what is Prana? Prana is a vital life force energy that flows within our body and keeps us alive. It regulates the different functions and health of the human body, be it mental, physical or emotional. When this Prana gets disturbed, it leads to various diseases and health issues. This Mudra is very helpful in ensuring a good flow of Prana, i.e. vertically. This Mudra is used to improve the function of our abdominal and reproductive area.
It helps in flushing out the menstrual waste from the urinary bladder and colon efficiently. That is why it is also known as Mudra for purification. This Mudra also improves the waste elimination in the abdominal region. That is why it is also known as a Mudra that is used for improving digestion, or the Mudra for digestion.
The Concept of Apana Vayu
This Mudra revolves around Apana Vayu Mudra. Apana Vayu is one of the five vayus that are described in different yogic texts. Apana Vayu is the one behind the whole process of elimination of waste in the human body. Apana Vayu improves the working of the intestine, urinary system, digestive system, and reproductive system, as well as improves colon health. This Mudra helps in balancing the Apana Vayu and improves waste elimination in the human body. Apana Vayu flows downward. When it is disturbed, it can cause problems like constipation, piles, menstrual irregularities and even impotency. When this Vayu is controlled, all these problems go away naturally!
Simple Steps to Do Apana Vayu Mudra.
Now, to perform Apanavaya Mudra, you should follow the following steps.
1. Sit comfortably on your yoga mat. Make sure that your spinal cord is very straight and upright.
2. Now, pick up any meditation pose, for example, Sukhasana, because that is the easiest pose. You can also try Padmasana or Siddhasana as a beginner.
3. Now, when you are in a sitting pose, you have to place both hands on both your thighs or knees.
4. Now, your palms should be facing upward.
5. Now, gently close your eyes. Start breathing slowly. Now, focus on your breath and feel that the toxins are going out and you are breathing positively.
6. Now you have to bring your ring and middle finger together. Now bend the ring and middle finger and make them touch your thumb. Make sure that your index and little finger are straight and pointed.
7. This should be done simultaneously and with both hands. Now, you have to remain in the same position.
8. Now, you have to hold the pose for at least 15 to 30 minutes, as per your capabilities.
9. Now, imagine the good energy is flowing within your body, and the Apana Vayu is getting balanced.
10. Now, release the mudra slowly. Open your eyes gently and bring yourself back to the normal position. Stay relaxed and breathe easily, enjoying the calming benefits of this mudra.
Right Time to Practice Apana Vayu Mudra
This mudra must be practised in the morning hours, because that is the right time to channelise your apana vayu. However, you can practice it any time of the day, but mornings are preferable too. You should always perform this mudra empty stomach, but if you have eaten something, then please wait for 2 hours before performing such mudra or yoga, including this mudra. You should start by practising this mudra 10-15 minutes per day, and you can extend your practice to 30-45 minutes per day. You can practice this duration of apana vayu mudra in breaks or altogether. Always practice this mudra 10-15 minutes per day.
The Benefits of Apana Vayu Mudra
1. This Mutara helps in improving the digestive system by ensuring the elimination of waste. It ensures that the flow of energy is downward, which helps in the natural removal of the waste and pushes it in the downward direction. When there is no waste, the gut system improves and helps in good digestion, removing problems like acidity, diarrhoea, constipation, gas, IBS, etc.
2. Apana Vayu Mudra is also used for detoxifying the body naturally. It helps in releasing out the toxins in the form of waste from the body. When the toxins are naturally removed, the body is clean and healthy.
3. This mudra is also helpful in blood pressure balance. Apana vayu mudra helps in maintaining a good blood flow in the various organs, such as the abdominal organs, reproductive organs, etc.
4. Apana Vayu Mudra is also practised to activate the natural immunity of the human body. When practised daily, it helps in building a better immune system and shields one from various physical, mental, and emotional sickness.
5. Apana Vayu Mudra, when practised in a disciplined way, can help in fighting diabetes and regulating the release of insulin.
6. This mudra also helps in solving menstrual problems by ensuring good menstrual flow. This helps in regulating the menstrual cycle in women. Performing this mudra in the form of some yoga or meditation daily for 30 minutes helps in solving different menstrual problems.
7. Women facing postpartum body pain, especially the back pain, can be relieved by performing apana vayu mudra.
8. This mudra is not only beneficial for the body, but it also helps in relieving the mind by removing anxiety, stress, and other mental health issues and ensuring a good and healthy mind.
9. This mudra helps in balancing the dosha, especially the vata dosha, which in turn solves all the health problems associated with imbalanced doshas.
10. This mudra helps in balancing the chakras, especially the muladhara chakra and swadhishthana chakra. When these chakras are balanced, then problems like fever, burning, or gut-related issues are also solved.
Mudra: A Deeper Perspective
Mudras are not simple gestures. It is a whole science. Mudra science includes the arrangements of fingers and hands in a particular way that helps in ensuring health benefits to the body and mind. These mudras are also helpful in ensuring spiritual growth. The mudras are not mythological, but are time-tested and proven scientific methods to heal the human body naturally.
Different texts, different traditional texts of yoga, speak about the different types of mudras that have been practised for years to attain different benefits. There are different kinds of energy flowing in our body and regulating it. Therefore, different mudras are meant to ensure different benefits. The mudras are used to restore the inner balance and harmonise the five elements from which the human body is made up. The biological functioning of the body is said to be improved when these mudras are practised as a discipline.
Read More: What Are Marma Points in Ayurveda Healing?
The mudras have the power to improve reproductive, digestive, and other systems of the body. Similarly, Apana Vayu mudra is another beautiful mudra that has tremendous benefits on the human body, and it is responsible for waste elimination. People who are facing problems with eliminating waste should practice this mudra. When waste is not properly eliminated from the body, it takes the form of toxins. When the toxins are piled up in the human body, they indirectly make the person suffer from various physical, emotional, and mental ailments. Sometimes these problems can turn chronic and even fatal. Therefore, you can stay healthy just by practising these simple mudras and keeping your body clean and healthy.
Conclusion
Practice Apana Vayu Mudra to lead a healthier life. Apana Vayu Mudra is a tremendous hand gesture practised in ancient healing practices. It might look simple, but the benefits of Apanan Vayu Mudra are not merely simple. When practised daily in the right way, it can resolve prolonged digestive, reproductive, and urinary issues! But make sure you practice under the guidance of an expert yoga and meditation teacher!
