M U D R A S
YOGA
in your
HANDS
GERTRUD HIRSCHI
S A M U E L WEISE R ,
IN C
York Beach, Maine
First published in 20(H) hy
SAMUEL WEISER, INC.
Box 612
York Beach, Maine 03910-0612
www.weiserbooks.com
English translation copyright © 2000 Samuel Weiser, Inc.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by
any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any informalion stor-
age or retrieval system, without permission in writing from Samuel Weiser, Inc. Reviewers may quote
brief passages. First published in German as Mudras: Yqga mil dem Ifleinen Finger, by Herman Bauer
Verlag, Freiburg im Breslau, Germany. Copyright © 1998 Verlag Hermann Veriag KG.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Hirschi, Gertrud.
[Mudras. F.nglish]
Mudras : yoga in your hands / Gertrud Hirsch
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 1-57863-139-4 (pbk : alk. paper)
1. Yoga, Hatha. [.Title.
KA781.7.H577U2000
613.7'046—dc2l
.
99-087 HI
VG
Translated by Christine M, Grimm
Typeset in 11/14 Granjon
Cover and text design by Kathryn Sky-Peck
Illustations by Ito Joyuatmojo
P R I N T E D
I N T H E U N I T E D S T A T E S O F A M E R I C A
07 06 05 04
03 02 01 00
7
6
5
4
3
2
The paper used in this publication meets all the minimum requirements of the American National
Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials Z39.48-1992
(RI997).
CONTENTS
Specific Mudras
ix
Acknowledgments
xi
Dear Reader
xiii
Part One
EXPLORING THE MUDRA CONCEPT
What Are Mudras?
2
Origin of Mudras
5
Breathing, Visualization, and Affirmations to Enhance the Mudras
13
Mudras and Music
16
Mudras and Color
18
Using Mudras to Heal Physical Complaints
20
Mudras and Healing Emotional Problems
22
Mudras and Other Hand Therapies
25
My Personal Experiences
40
Mudras and Meditation
43
Mudras for Recharging Energy Reserves
43
Mudras for Coming to Terms with the Past
44