Anjali Mudra

What is the significance of doing Anjali Mudra during our asana practice?

In Sanskrit, the word Anjali means ‘divine offering or gift’ and Mudra means gesture, so doing Angali Mudra is a gesture signifying a divine offering or gift. 

We practice it often during our practice- in meditation, tadasana, before every sun salutation, in balance poses and at the start and end of our practice, just to name a few.

It can be used as a posture of composure, and of returning to one’s heart. It connects the right and left hemispheres of the brain bringing into balance the masculine and feminine, the logic and intuition, the strength and tenderness, and the active and passive.

If we make ourselves aware of the significance of the gesture, we can do it mindfully during our practice and with intention. This way it becomes more meaningful and further deepens our practice. 

It can mean different things to everyone. In western cultures it is often thought of as a prayer position, and can invoke personal  reflection in a praying sense. Krishnamacharya, a yoga master who is often referred to as the father of modern yoga describes the following: 

“This gesture signifies the potential for an intention to progress to greatest spiritual awakening. When done properly the palms are not flat against each other; the knuckles at the base of the fingers are bent a little, creating space between the palms and fingers of the two hands resembling a flower yet to open, symbolizing the opening of our hearts.”

If you part your palms slightly creating a small space or ‘flower bud’ as described above you may want to metaphorically plant a seed, or visualise an affirmation, intention or prayer within your anjali mudra. Keep coming back to this through your practice every time you bring your hands together in this way, intentionally aligning your mind, thoughts and body in this gesture.