Guidelines for Mudra Therapy

• Balance, decrease, increase and empowerment
• Touching the tip of the finger and thumb balances the element represented by the finger.
• Touching the finger tip at the base of the thumb decreases the element.
• Touching the thumb tip to the base of the finger increases the element.
• Touching the tips of fingers of both the hands increases the power of the 5 elements. Hence memory is sharpened.

1. A light contact between the tips of the thumbs and the fingers is sufficient. One need not apply pressure.
2. Fingers not actively involved in the mudra should be comfortably straight.
3. Whenever possible perform the mudras with both the hands. Perform mudra with one hand when there is problem in the opposite side.
4. Mudras can be practised anytime, anywhere, while sitting, standing, walking, travelling, watching TV, listening to music or even while sleeping. While sitting place the palms on the things.
5. Mudras can be performed by anybody and facing any direction. Mudras are universal.
6. Chanting of mantras (e.g Om, Gayatri, Om Namah shivaya) with mudras yields greater effect.
7. Even passive performance of mudras using rubber bands, sticking tapes for unconscious/insane people or for children while they are sleeping, proves beneficial.
8. Suitable dietary changes can reinforce the benefits of mudras, whereas unsuitable diet may offset the good effect of the mudras. A person's recovery from disease is expedited by combining mudra therapy with correct diet.
9. Mudra therapy can be combined with medicines or Yoga therapy. Previously prescribed medication may be continued till well being established by the doctor.
10. For general well being, six mudras are to be practised everyday for ten minutes each, they are - Jnana, Prithvi, Apana, Prana, ShoonyaVayu and Dhyana.
11. During therapy the specific mudra is to be practised for 50 minutes followed by Prana mudra. If there is time constraint the 50 minutes practice may be divided into three smaller practice consisting of 15 minutes of the specific mudra followed by 5 minutes of prana mudra. If time permits the 50 minutes practice may be repeated to resolve the problem quicker.
12. When a problem is resolved, the specific therapeutic mudras are to be discontinued. This applies to the following mudras - vayu, shoonya, soorya, jalodar nashaka mudra and linga mudra. Linga mudra, should not be performed more than 15 minutes at a time as it generates a lot of heat within the body.
13. Some mudras show their effects immediately - e.g Shoonya mudra cures vertigo within a few seconds. Similarly, Apan vayu mudra gives instant relief during a heart attack. In case of chronic diseases mudras like vayu, soorya and jalodar nashaka can show their effect within eight to fifteen days.
14. Mudras have capacity to withdraw addiction - e.g. Smack, LSD, intoxication and other mental maladies. Regular practice of mudra can control bad habits like lying and thieving. (Mudras for Healing - by keshav Deo).
15. Prana, Apana, Prithvi and Jnana mudra can be practised for an unlimited time. Other mudras must be practiced till the illness persis.
16. Healthy people should regularly practise Jnana, Prithvi, Apana, Dhyana, Prana and Shoonya Vayu mudras everyday for 10 minutes each so that they would remain healthy throughout their lives.
17. While performing mudras, placing the hands on the things/knees creats another pranic circuit that stimulates the gupta nadi - hidden channels in the thighs and helps stimulate the energies at mooladhara chakra. This results in increasing energy within the body.