Yoga is a form of practice that originated in India that is gaining popularity worldwide. Mudras are an essential and integral part of Yoga that enhances smooth energy flow in the body by maintaining the balance between five elements. Adi Mudra is a hand gesture that promotes calmness and stability of mind and is a great companion of meditative practices. You can either combine this Mudra with an asana-pranayama session or do it separately.

Let us go through this article to learn all about Adi Mudra, the benefits, and the side effects of performing it.

What is Adi Mudra?

Adi Mudra is a hand gesture similar to the fetus’s first gesture in the mother’s womb. The words ‘Adi’ mean first, and ‘Mudra’ means gesture, hence the name. Performing Adi Mudra keeps your mind and nervous system calm and quiet while performing spiritual Yoga. This Mudra focuses on your internal chest structure by focusing on breathing patterns.

[Read: Best Benefits of Akash Mudra for Health]

Steps to do Adi Mudra:

Here are the steps you need to follow to perform Adi Mudra effectively:

• Sit down in a comfortable and meditative posture with your eyes closed and spine erect. You can stand straight in a mountain pose if sitting down is uncomfortable for you.
• Keep your arms on your knees with palms facing down if you are sitting down. Extend your arms slightly outward, maintaining distance between your hands and thighs if you are in a standing position.
• Now press your thumb to touch the base of your little finger joint on the palm of both hands.
• Now clench the other fingers inward, forming a fist, wrapping them around the thumb.
• Maintain pressure evenly across the palm. But make sure not to hurt your thumb by pressing too hard.
• Perform the Adi Mudra on both hands simultaneously for effective results.
• Now gently release your fingers, easing your palms. Then rub your palms together and touch your eyes and face gently.
• In yoga practice, adi mudra is used in different positions. For example, the palms facing down usually means keeping your mind calm.

Time Duration:

You can practice the Adi mudra for ten minutes at a time, three times a day, or 30 minutes at a stretch. However, this gesture must be practiced early on an empty stomach for better results. Focus on your breathing while you practice Adi mudra. Although there is no time restriction to perform this Mudra, any Mudra should be done between 4 to 6 AM for effective results.