Contents
Vayu Tattva (Air Element)
To know the vayu mudra better we need to first understand the air element (vayu tattva) which is one of the most important elements and can easily get out of balance (mostly increase).
Vayu – Imbalance because of the psyche
The air element is closely related to our thoughts, it is the vehicle with the help of which the thoughts manifest in our body. Remember the situation when you had a fearful thought like losing a job, this thought can manifest in your body with the help of air element by increasing your heartbeat, shallow breath (anxiety), etc.
The connection of the thought (related to the space element) and its manifestation in the body is carried out with the help of the air element.
Vayu – Imbalance because of food
Each food has got different properties, some food can increase the air element which can manifest as bloating, flatulence, and joint pain, etc like radishes, green leafy vegetables, etc and some others can help to decrease the air element like ginger, fenugreek, hing (asafetida), etc. To know more about this kind of imbalance read the article vata dosha.
Vayu – Imbalance because of energy
In our daily life, we keep on meeting different people with different energies. Remember a situation where you enter a room full of people about to be getting interviewed, there is anxiety in the air and you can pick up on this energy and start feeling anxious yourself even though you might be fully prepared and confident. We keep on meeting people who elate our mood or some other people who can make us feel sad.
This negative energetic exchange can also imbalance the air element and can manifest as bloating, yawning, joint pain, getting unwanted thoughts, or irrelevant dreams.
Vayu mudra
We have already mentioned in the basics of Hasta (hand) mudra, that the index finger represents the air element. Vayu mudra is done by joining the tip of the index finger to the base of the thumb, with the thumb resting on the index finger and all the other fingers relaxed. This mudra helps to decrease the excess air element in the body.
When to do vayu mudra?
Vayu mudra can be done when you are facing some physical symptoms like bloating, flatulence, joint problems, excessively clicking joints, and a subtle full-body pain sensation.
This mudra can also be done to support a meditative practice by decreasing the air element which helps decrease the thoughts.
To know more about the vayu mudra from an ayurvedic perspective read the article Ayurveda: Vata dosha and vata diseases.