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Prana Mudra

Last updated: December 21, 2023

What Does Prana Mudra Mean?

Prana mudra is a sacred hand gesture or ‘seal,’ used during yoga and meditation practice as a means of channeling the flow of vital life force energy known as prana.

Also referred to as the ‘life force seal’, prana mudra is specifically used to activate dormant energy within the subtle body, whilst balancing the elements of earth, water and fire within the physical body. It is a hasta mudra, which means it is performed using the hands.

Prana mudra can be used as an energetic pick-me-up, as it increases vitality and helps to clear energetic blockages. This mudra activates the muladhara (root) chakra, the point from which the three main energy channels of the body emerge; the Ida, Pingala and Sushumna nadis.

Since stimulation of these nadis encourages a free flow of prana throughout the body, prana mudra is believed to be a powerful gesture.

Prana mudra may be practiced in any stable seated posture, such as sukhasana (easy pose) or padmasana (lotus pose). It is performed by bringing the tips of the little finger, ring finger and thumb together. The index finger and middle finger remain extended, with the palm facing up.

Prana mudra is usually practiced on both hands, and should be held for 30 to 45 minutes for maximum benefits. This can be done all at once, or broken up into three shorter practices of 10 to 15 minutes.

Prana mudra is also known as pran mudra, kapha karak mudra, and pitta-nashak mudra.

Prana Mudra

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Yogapedia Explains Prana Mudra

Mudras are used within yoga and meditation practice as a means of moving, controlling and sealing prana within the body. Prana is a vital life force, present in all living things.

In yoga and Ayurveda, prana deficiency or imbalance is believed to be the root cause of illness and disease, and so maintaining healthy prana is essential for wellbeing.

Prana mudra can be used therapeutically, as a means of healing. According to Ayurveda, this mudra increases kapha dosha and decreases pitta dosha, and therefore should not be practiced by those with excess kapha.

Prana mudra also stimulates the prana vayu, one of the five subdivisions of prana. Prana vayu is primarily active in the head and chest areas and is responsible for sensory perception and inhalation.

It has an inward motion of energy and can lead to anxiety, ruminations and sensory overload when blocked or imbalanced. By bringing balance to prana vayu, prana mudra can help to ease these states.

Additional benefits of prana mudra include:

  • Reducing fatigue

  • Enhancing focus and clarity

  • Building self-confidence

  • Improving circulation

  • Easing symptoms of vitamin deficiency

  • Preventing insomnia

  • Boosting the immune system

  • Bringing stability to body and mind

  • Improving vision


During These Times of Stress and Uncertainty Your Doshas May Be Unbalanced.

To help you bring attention to your doshas and to identify what your predominant dosha is, we created the following quiz.

Try not to stress over every question, but simply answer based off your intuition. After all, you know yourself better than anyone else.

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Synonyms

Pran Mudra

Kapha Karak Mudra

Pitta-Nashak Mudra

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