The history and heritage of mudras – extract from Mudras of India by Cain Carroll and Revital Carroll

Cover of Mudras of IndiaIn this extract from Mudras of India, the authors explore the meaning and use of hand gestures in both vedic and Chinese traditions, and describes the ancient spiritual origins, and meaning of the mudras of India.

“Our hands are a source of tremendous power. With such profound dexterity,sensitivity, and utility, the human hands may be one of our most defining features as a species… With the hands playing such a central role in our experience of being human, it comes as no surprise that many of the world’s great spiritual and artistic traditions have considered the hands as sacred.”

Click here to read the extract

Mudras of India is now available in paperback, and includes a new chapter that comprehensively lists the benefits of hand mudras, covering major health concerns as well spiritual and psycho-energetic categories.

Mudras of India is a much-needed compendium that beautifully illustrates the incredible variety and versatility of the hand gestures that play a key role in India’s sacred traditions. Every dancer, yogi, or yogini will want to keep a copy on hand!”

– Roxanne Kamayani Gupta, PhD, author of A Yoga of Indian Classical Dance: The Yogini’s Mirror

Cain Carroll teaches yoga, qigong, meditation and self-healing worldwide. He has trained extensively under the guidance of Daoist, Buddhist and Indian Yoga masters. His journeys have taken him to remote areas of India, China, Nepal, Tibet, Thailand and South America, where he received private instruction in many rare and powerful practices. Cain is co-author of Partner Yoga and creator of three self-healing DVDs. His website can be visited at www.caincarroll.com. Revital Carroll has been dedicated to the study of Indian spiritual arts since childhood. Intensive study and practice of yoga and meditation in the Himalayas led her to discover her passion for Odissi Indian Dance. She is the creator of three instructional DVDs and she offers classes, workshops and performances worldwide. Visit www.shaktibhakti.com for more information.

Prana Mudra with Cain Carroll

This is the second video in Cain Carroll’s ‘Mudra Moments’ series. See here for part 1: Apana Mudra.

In this two-minute mini-class, Cain Carroll introduces Prana Mudra, a traditional Indian hand mudra which improves overall vitality and immunity, activates the body’s self-healing capacity, improves concentration, and strengthens stamina and willpower.

More information on Prana Mudra, including technique, application, benefits and sanscrit notation, can be found in Mudras of India: A Comprehensive Guide to the Hand Gestures of Yoga and Indian Dance.

Apana Mudra with Cain Carroll

In this two-minute mini-class, Cain Carroll introduces Apana Mudra, a traditional Indian hand mudra which improves digestive health and elimination (including easing constipation and hemorrhoids), and helps to regulate the menstrual cycle (alleviating cramping, dryness and clotting).

More information on Apana Mudra, including technique, application, benefits and sanscrit notation, can be found in Mudras of India: A Comprehensive Guide to the Hand Gestures of Yoga and Indian Dance .

Look out for more videos in the series of Mudra Moments coming soon to the Singing Dragon blog.