Anjali Mudra - Prayer Seal

This is also known as Atmanjali Mudra and this hand gesture is often seen in India when people greet, thank or express respect to each other. It is also used in prayer.

Anjali Mudra is used in Yoga classes too. Its significance is broad; it is used to remind you to come back to your centre, that your practice is a form of prayer, it is an offering to your true Self. Anjali Mudra helps to direct the energy upward, calming the mind.

This Mudra helps you to come from a calm, clear perspective and ground yourself. The gentle pressing together of the two palms, activates and harmonizes coordination of the right and left hemispheres of the brain.

When you join your hands together like this, you are making a physical gesture of union and gratitude. Yoga means union coming from “yuk” to yoke or bind, so this gesture is on another level, the union of your individual self and the universe and how the both are interconnected.

When you press the thumbs to your breastbone, your heart Chakra, Anahata Chakra, you are also reminding yourself to nurture the qualities of the heart during your Yoga practice. The hands being placed at the heart is the Self being felt in the Anahata Chakra. Often at the end of the class Anjali Mudra is used, bringing the prayer seal to your eyebrow centre, Anja Chakra, as you bow your head and say Namaste.

So when you hold Anjali Mudra, infuse it with the intention of union; then observe if you notice a change, however subtle, in your mind, body and heart...