A mudra is a gesture, mark, or seal, and in yoga it is common to use hand mudras to affect prana. Anjali mudra, or prayer hands in front of the heart, might be the most familiar mudra for many yogis. Practicing this mudra brings together the left and right hemispheres of the brain, stimulates acupressure or marma points to create calm, and is connected to the heart chakra. The wrists and hands are an often neglected part of the body, and Anjali mudra can be a boon in this regard.
To practice anjali mudra, place your hands palm to palm in front of the chest with the fingers pointing upward. Keeping the shoulders relaxed, gently draw your sternum to meet the thumbs. Tune in your awareness to the felt sense of connection between the palms and each pair of fingers. Lengthen the back of your neck to drop the chin slightly. Close your eyes if it’s comfortable and take a handful of soft, easy breaths.
Release the hands, palms facing up, and notice what you notice. Sometimes the simplest practices are the most effective.