Purpose / Benefits: Anjali / Atmanjali Mudra

- Bring a calming, centering energy.
- Create clarity.
- Increase concentration.
- “Support inner collection.” (Gertrud Hirschi)
- Create harmony, balance.
- Bring silence.
- Harmonize coordination of left and right brain hemispheres.
- Express reverence, praise or gratitude.
- Support meditation.
- “Facilitates connection to the heart and central channel – sushumna nadi.” (Cain Carroll)
- Also used to show obedience, to clap a beat, to indicate the form of Shiva, and to await instruction from one’s guru. (Cain Carroll)
- “[Used to bridge] inner and outer experience, when saying grace before meals, communicating our truth within a relationship, or as a means of cooling the fires of stress when feeling rushed or reactionary.” (Shiva Rea)
Anjali Mudra is used extensively as part of the spiritual cultures of East and West as a gesture of prayer, to show respect, humble oneself, and surrender to the greatness of life. – Cain Carroll and Revital Carroll
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Clasping the hands together in prayer or Anjali mudra as it is known in yoga, forms a “closed loop” or a “closed circuit.” Energy flows through this circuit from the right-hand palm (positive) to left hand palm (negative) enhancing the flow of electrical energy within the body. – Body Divine Yoga
Sample Uses
- Greeting
- Meditation
- Pranamasana (Mountain Pose + Anjali Mudra)
- Vrksasana (Tree Pose)
- Parsvottanasana (Pyramid) – mudra held behind back