Hakini Mudra: Increase Your Breath

There’s energy in your palms, greater than you would possibly suppose. I used to be first uncovered at hand mudras throughout iRest (Yoga Nidra) coaching with Richard Miller, PhD, a long time in the past. Whereas I knew our palms are extremely enervated, and command numerous actual property within the mind’s physique maps, I had no concept how simply totally different hand positions translated to results in the remainder of the physique. In Miller’s coaching, I realized mudras for pranayama, meditation, and positions meant to “gentle up” every chakra. Nonetheless, we didn’t follow Hakini Mudra.

Typically referred to as “Mind Energy Mudra” or “Mudra for the Thoughts,” Hakini Mudra is alleged to boost mind energy. In keeping with the yoga custom, practising this mudra improves focus, reminiscence and focus. I realized Hakini Mudra from yoga instructor Jenny Otto, as a place that can provide us entry to totally different areas of our “respiration area.”

Why Increase Your Respiratory Area?

In keeping with an article in Therapeutic massage & Bodywork Journal, “The Science of Mouth vs. Nostril Respiratory” by John Douillard, the ribcage turns into a literal cage for our lungs and diaphragm over time. Extreme sitting, shallow respiration and sedentary existence all contribute to this drawback. When the ribcage turns into inflexible, the diaphragm can not absolutely contract after we inhale. Consequently, our respiration turns into shallower.

Right here’s how Douillard explains it:

”When the diaphragm contracts, it attracts oxygen into the lungs, forcing the ribcage to increase. Over time, because the ribcage turns into extra rigicl, the diaphragm weakens and can’t absolutely contract on inhalation and chill out on exhalation. This implies the breath sample turns into shallow. Over time, we’re more likely to change into shallow breathers, participating in what is known as over respiration.

“Throughout shallow respiration, 75 p.c of the oxygen we inhale is exhaled unused. Shallow respiration additionally forces us to breathe out extreme carbon dioxide. On this shallow respiration state, the oxygen ranges within the blood keep excessive whereas CO2 ranges plummet. That is the right storm for nervousness, which is why when of us have a panic assault, they attempt to enhance carbon dioxide ranges by respiration right into a paper bag. Whereas persistent blood ranges of extra oxygen and low-carbon dioxide enhance the physique’s srress response, rising blood ranges of carbon dioxide even have a sedation impact on the physique.“

I extremely advocate you learn your complete article (linked above). It offers very important details about the significance of diaphragmatic respiration. It’s a should for yoga academics!

How one can Follow Hakini Mudra to Increase the Breath

Hakini Mudra can provide us entry to the decrease, center and higher respiration areas, just by how we contact our fingertips.

1. Start by discovering a cushty seated place. Ensure you have sufficient assist beneath your hips in order that your backbone can relaxation in its pure curves. Right here’s an article with recommendations for figuring out the perfect meditation cushion to your physique. You may as well follow in a chair if sitting on the ground doesn’t work to your physique.
2. Place your fingertips collectively. Contact calmly; ensure that your fingers are usually not urgent onerous. On the identical time, your fingers ought to join solidly—not too onerous, not too mushy.
3. Take 5 or extra deep breaths, adjusting your posture to accommodate deep respiration. Be certain your ribcage and stomach are increasing outward as you inhale, and contracting inward as you exhale. Inhale absolutely, however with out pressure. Exhale utterly, with out pressure.
4. Now press your pinky and ring fingers collectively barely extra firmly than the opposite fingers. Proceed to breathe, and spot the place you are feeling the “middle” of your breath inside your torso. Take 5 to 10 deep breaths.
5. Let go of the pinky and ring fingers, touching them calmly once more. Then press the center fingers collectively barely extra firmly than the others. Take 5 to 10 deep breaths, noticing the place you are feeling the middle of your breath.
6. Let go of the center fingers, touching them calmly once more. No press the thumbs and index fingers collectively a bit extra firmly than the others. Take 5 to 10 deep breaths, noticing the place you are feeling the middle of the breath.
7. Now contact the fingers evenly, calmly, and take a number of extra breaths earlier than returning to common respiration.

When you’re practising, be at liberty to modify backwards and forwards between steps 4-6 that can assist you really feel variations in how the finger contact influences your respiration. Follow this any time to assist maintain your ribcage and diaphragm supple, and your breath free and straightforward.

About Charlotte Bell

Charlotte Bell found yoga in 1982 and commenced educating in 1986. Charlotte is the creator of Conscious Yoga, Conscious Life: A Information for On a regular basis Follow and Yoga for Meditators, each revealed by Rodmell Press. Her third e-book is titled Hip-Wholesome Asana: The Yoga Practitioner’s Information to Defending the Hips and Avoiding SI Joint Ache (Shambhala Publications). She writes a month-to-month column for CATALYST Journal and serves as editor for Yoga U On-line. Charlotte is a founding board member for GreenTREE Yoga, a non-profit that brings yoga to underserved populations. A lifelong musician, Charlotte performs oboe and English horn within the Salt Lake Symphony and people sextet Pink Rock Rondo, whose DVD received two Emmy awards.