Discover The Top 5 Yoga Mudra For Weight Loss

Introduction

In this article, we will explore the importance of yoga mudra for weight loss. Yoga mudras are the hand gestures that are used to balance the energy elements in the body. Our body comprises five elements: water, air, earth, fire, and space. The five fingers in the hands represent an element.  The little finger represents water (Jal), the ring finger represents land (Prithvi), the middle finger represents the sky (Akash), the index finger represents air (Vayu), and the thumb represents fire (Agni).

The imbalance of energy elements is often the root cause of disease in your body. As per studies, the mudras are known to help regulate and balance the flow of the energy elements in the body. Research says Mudras have the potential benefits for physical, mental, and emotional well-being. They are found helpful in health conditions like anxiety, depression, stress, headaches, pain, respiratory conditions, hypertension, cholesterol, heart health, and almost every system of the body.

Read More: 9 Amazing Indian Home Remedy For Cough With Phlegm

Yoga Mudra for Weight Loss

Studies suggest an imbalance of earth elements can lead to obesity, weight loss, weight gain, cholesterol, weakness, bones, muscular diseases, etc. While doing mudras you apply pressure to the nerves that form psycho-neural circuits and it helps balance the five elements in our body and provides you with optimum health. You can practice various mudras that can help you manage weight.

Let’s check out the mudras for losing weight. Yoga mudras are usually practiced during meditation or pranayama, a powerful technique to balance energy in your body.

1. Gyan Mudra- Yoga Mudra For Weight Loss

Gyan mudra is also known as the mudra of wisdom. Gyan mudra is widely practiced with breathing exercises and meditation.

Benefits

  • Studies suggest a strong link between the stress hormone cortisol and weight gain.
  • Long-term stress leads to higher cortisol levels in the body responsible for slower metabolism and fat deposition around the waist.
  • Gyan mudra helps to boost metabolism and enhances the sleep cycle, reducing stress and anxiety and promoting healthy weight management.
  • Gyan mudra stimulates brain function and strengthens the nervous system.
  • Improves focus and concentration
  • It aids in relieving stress, relaxes the body, and calms the mind.

 

Gyana mudra

How to do

  • Gyan mudra can be practiced in padmasana or sukhasana.
  • Sit down comfortably with your spine straight.
  • Keep your hands extended resting on your knees.
  • Touch the tip of your index finger with the tip of your thumb with gentle press.
  • Keep your other fingers straight and your palms resting on your knees.
  • Keep your eyes closed, stay calm, and focus on your breathing.

Duration You can practice Gyana mudra for 30 minutes daily.

2. Surya Mudra- Yoga Mudra For Weight Loss

  • Surya Mudra is also called Prithvi Shamak Mudra. It reduces earth elements in your body. Earth is the primary component of fat, thus practicing Surya mudra is helpful in fat loss.
  • Surya mudra elevates the fire element in the body, improving digestion and lowering the Kapha Dosha, thus helping with weight loss and obesity.
  • It also helps to lower cholesterol levels, improves appetite, and keeps you energetic.

surya mudra

How to do

  • Sit in the sukhasana or padmasana position with your back straight.
  • Place your palms on your knees facing towards the sky.
  • Touch the tip of the ring finger to the base of the thumb and press the ring finger gently with your thumb.

Duration- You can practice surya mudra for 30 minutes daily in the morning.

Precaution:

  • People who want to gain weight should do it in moderation.
  • Individuals having a dominant pitta element should do Surya mudra in moderation as it is pitta karak that increases pitta and reduces kapha dosha.

3. Linga Mudra- Yoga Mudra For Weight Loss

Linga Mudra contributes to the burning of extra fat in the body which aids in weight loss. It increases the body heat by focusing on the fire element inside the body. It helps improve metabolism, increases willpower, enforces positive empowerment, and is most effective in losing weight.

linga mudra

 

How to do-

  • Sit comfortably with crossed legs with your spine erect and relax by closing your eyes.
  • Bring both hands in front of your body and interlock them so the palms are pressed against each other.
  • Ensure that the left thumb points vertically upwards and encircle it with the thumb and index finger of the right hand.

Duration- You can practice linga yoga mudra for 5 to 30 minutes. 

 Precaution- People with excess pitta guna should do it in moderation.

4. Prana Mudra- Yoga Mudra for Weight Loss

  • Prana mudra symbolizes energy and improves overall health.
  • It optimizes nutrient absorption from our food and maintains the body’s energy levels.
  • Prana mudra helps to overcome fear, stress, anxiety, and anger and replace them with self-confidence, mental clarity, joy, and happiness.
  • Prana mudra improves metabolism, aids in digestion, and lowers stress levels which helps lose weight easily and more efficiently.

prana mudra

How to do

  • Sit comfortably in the padmasana or vajrasana position with your back straight.
  • Rest both your hands on your knees.
  • Touch the tip of the thumb with the ring and the little finger keeping the middle and index fingers stretched out.

Precaution

Individuals having Kapha Dosha in excess should practice this mudra in moderation.

Duration of prana mudra

You can practice Prana Mudra for 20 to 30 minutes daily in the morning or you can split it into 15 minutes twice a day.

5. Apana Mudra – Yoga Mudra For Weight Loss

  • Apana mudra plays an important role in regulating the body’s excretory system.
  • Apana mudra helps to improve digestion and detox your body, stimulating the excretory system to flush out toxins from the body.
  • Detoxifying your body and maintaining healthy bowel movements regularly can help you lose weight more efficiently.
  • Practicing Apana mudra makes you feel lighter and more energetic.
  • Apana mudra also helps reduce blood sugar levels by increasing urination and relieving menstrual symptoms.

Apana mudra

How to do:

  • Sit comfortably with your legs crossed.
  • Keep your hands on your knees facing upwards.
  • Join the tip of the thumb to the tip of the ring and middle finger and apply a little pressure.

Precautions

  • Researches suggest Apana Vayu creates a strong downward pull in the body, thus it’s not recommended in pregnant women in the initial 8 months of pregnancy. During full term 9 months, it can help in easy childbirth.
  • People suffering from diarrhea, dysentery, and colitis should avoid practicing Apana mudra.
  • Do not practice apana mudra immediately after meals.

Duration: Apana mudra can be practiced daily for 20 to 30 minutes in a sukhasana position.

Conclusion

In conclusion, incorporating various yoga mudra for weight loss into your daily routine provides a powerful and holistic approach to weight management. These simple yet effective hand gestures not only promote physical well-being but also enhance mental clarity and emotional balance. By integrating these practices into your lifestyle, you can support your weight loss journey while fostering a deeper connection to your body and mind. Embrace the potential of yoga mudras as a complementary tool in achieving your health goals, and experience the transformative benefits they offer.

Mudras are part of yoga that has lot of health benefits when practiced for long terms. Yoga mudras can be practiced at any time, morning or evening, and at any place like in the office, at home, or while walking. Start doing mudras initially for five minutes and slowly increase up to 30 minutes for best results or you can split for 15 minutes daily and practice twice a day. You can practice one mudra daily to achieve weight loss goals.

FAQ’s

Q1. Which mudra is best for weight loss?

Ans: Surya mudra, Linga mudra, Apana mudra, Prana mudra are powerful mudras that help weight loss.

Q2. Which mudra is the best detox mudra?

Ans: Apan mudra is the best detox mudra that stimulates the excretory system to flush out toxins from the body making you feel more lighter, energetic, and cheerful.

Q3. Does Mudra really work?

Ans: The hand gestures in yoga mudras make important connections in the nervous system and stimulate energy flow to the brain,  resulting in optimum functioning of the body both mentally and physically.

Q4. Which mudra burns belly fat?

Ans: Linga mudra and Surya mudra help reduce the fat deposition present in the body improving the metabolism and digestive process.

Q5. Which mudra reduces weakness?

Ans: Prana Mudra is the source of vital life force and energy that improves overall health and wellness.

References

A Deep Survey on Sole and Essence of Hand Mudra(s)

https://ijcrt.org/papers/IJCRT1704050.pdf

Yoga Mudras: Benefits, Rekha B Biradar. Yoga Mudras: Benefits. Int. J. of Advances in Nur. Management. 2018

https://ijanm.com/HTMLPaper.aspx?Journal=International%20Journal%20of%20Advances%20in%20Nursing%20Management;PID=2018-6-4-13

Effect of yoga mudras in improving the health of users

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9347266/

You Guessed It: Long-Term Stress Can Make You Gain Weight

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/stress-and-weight-gain

 

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