Due to our bad eating habits and lifestyle, heart diseases are common nowadays. We usually eat unhealthy food such as junk food, oily food, and fast food. This unhealthy food makes us much prone to heart diseases.
Similarly, our daily habits such as sleeping late, no physical exercise, drinking, and smoking have an ill effect on our heart’s health.
Commonly, people aging about 50-60 years face heart problems. But nowadays, even, the young aged person about 25-30 years old are also facing heart problems, like hypertension and high blood pressure.
Many yoga mudras are designed in such a way that they manage energies in our body to prevent heart problems. Apana Vayu Mudra is one such mudra.
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Apana Vayu Mudra: The Mrit-Sanjeevni Mudra
Apana Vayu mudra is a therapeutic mudra, mainly helps in healing heart-related diseases. This mudra is also known as Mrit-Sanjeevni Mudra. But why we call it Mrit-Sanjeevni Mudra?
In Ramayana, Sanjeevni was a herb that revived Lord Laxmana from the unconsciousness. This herb snatched Lord Laxmana back from the grasp of death.
Similarly, Apana Vayu Mudra also snatches us back from the hold of death due to heart attack and other heart-related problems. Therefore we call it Mrit-Sanjeevni Mudra.
Now, we’ll see how does this mudra works.
You might know that every finger of our hands associated with some energy.
Thumb – Energy of Fire
Index Finger – Energy of Air
Middle Finger – Ether energy
Ring Finger – Earth (Grounding) energy
Little Finger – Water energy
According to Ayurveda, disbalance in these elements leads to disorders in our body. So, it is important to maintain the balance of these elements in the body.
Mainly disbalance in the earth, air, and fire element is responsible for heart-related disorders.
Apana Vayu mudra includes gesture of the thumb, middle finger, ring finger, and index finger. This mudra increases the earth element with the fire element and decreases the air element in the body.
This balance of element helps to clean the body and supply more oxygen to the heart. As a result, this increases the strength of our heart. We fold the index finger in this mudra which reduces the excess of air element in the body.
Thus, this mudra balances these three elements and gives relief from heart disorders and many other problems.
Now, you have plenty of information about Apana Vayu mudra, so lets know how to perform this mudra.
How to Do Apana Vayu Mudra
Apana Vayu mudra quite looks like a combination of Shunya mudra and Apana mudra. This mudra includes movement of the thumb, index finger, middle finger, and ring finger.
To perform this mudra, you need to join the tip of the thumb with the tip of the middle finger and ring finger. After that touch the tip of the index finger at the baseline of the thumb.
Now, let’s move towards the steps to perform this mudra.
Steps to Perform Apana Vayu Mudra
- At first, sit in a yoga asana such as padmasana, sukhasana, or vajrasana. Make yourself relaxed. Be comfortable with the asana. You must get comfortable to perform any mudra properly.
Try to sit on a yoga mat. This will help you get comfortable and maintain balance.
- Now, close your eyes, take a couple of deep breaths. This will regulate the flow of prana to your heart and mind. This will help you in better relaxation.
This is the sitting posture that you need to maintain. Now, let’s see how to arrange fingers in this mudra.
Finger Arrangement in Apana Vayu Mudra
- Firstly, join the tip of the middle finger and ring finger, with the tip of the thumb.
- Secondly, bend the index finger towards the thumb and touch the base of the thumb with the tip of the index finger.
- Leave the little (pinky) finger extended as much as possible.
- Do the same arrangement with both hands simultaneously.
- Now, without disturbing the finger arrangement, place both hands on your upper thighs.
- Close your eyes and chant OM for better concentration. This will help you to feel your Chitta. Still, you can do this mudra with open eyes.
- Now, try to remove all thoughts from your mind and focus on your breaths.
Time and Duration
The best time to perform any mudra is from 4 am to 6 am.
A fresh mind is always best for any yoga practice. In the morning time, our mind tends to be in the freshest state. Certainly, there is very little noise at this time of the day. This helps us to concentrate better and helps to relax the mind.
Thus morning time is the best time to perform this mudra.
If you are unable to do this exercise in the morning, still you can do it in the evening.
Research says1., for the best results, we should perform a mudra for more than 20 minutes. In the case of Apana Vayu mudra, you should go for a 30-40 minute session. Still, it depends on you to do it in a single stretch of 30-40 minutes, or two-three stretches of 10-15 minutes.
Precautions to Take While Performing Apana Vayu Mudra
While performing this mudra, you need to take some precautions for better results. Let’s see what are they.
- If you pose the Kapha constitution, perform this mudra moderately.
- If you are wearing a watch or bracelet, remove it. Make yourself as light as possible.
- Don’t wear too tight or too loose clothes. This might make you uncomfortable.
- Try to perform it in a quiet place, to prevent disturbance and interruption.
- Don’t force your fingers for any action. Touch them gently and lightly.
Benefits of Apana Vayu Mudra
Apana Vayu Mudra has many benefits in our body, especially in cardiovascular health.
- Prevents Heart Disorders
As mentioned earlier, Apana Vayu mudra is especially beneficial for heart disease. Here are some heart disorders that are cured by the practice of this mudra.
1. Cures Shrinking of Heart Arteries
When there is an excess of air element in the body, the walls of the arteries become thick and hard (arteriosclerosis). This shrinks the heart arteries. This mudra balances the excess of the air element. As a result, the walls of the arteries become normal. Thus, this mudra helps to cure the shrinking of heart arteries.
Besides, Apana Vayu mudra clears the blockage in the heart arteries. Therefore it also cures fast heartbeats, chest pain, and irregular blood pressure. It is also helpful in curing heartburn.
2. Beneficial in Reducing the Effect of Heart Attacks
In the time of the heart attack, this mudra is supposed to have a quicker effect than a Sorbitrate tablet 2 (a medicine used immediately after a heart attack).
In case of a heart attack, it might take you a little time to eat the Sorbitrate tablet, but one can perform this mudra within 1-2 seconds. It reduces the damages of the heart attack and allows the victim to arrive hospital safely.
Research 3 says the regular practice of Apana Vayu Mudra keeps you away from heart attacks and strokes
- Reduces the Nervousness
Many believed that the nervous system is made up of Earth and Ether elements. Apana Vayu mudra balances these elements in the body, thus, it soothes the nervous system. As a result, it reduces nervousness.
Along with this, this mudra helps to relieve anxiety and negative emotions.
- Improves Digestion
Apana Vayu mudra reduces air element in the body. This results in the improved digestive fire within the body, which improves digestion in the body. Thus, this mudra helps to improve digestion.
This mudra also includes the flow of earth and ether element. These elements are responsible for detoxifying the body. Thus, the regular practice of Apana Vayu mudra also helps in detoxifying the body.
Also, this mudra cures the problem of gastric, eructation and bloating, which is caused by the excess of air element in the body.
- Prevents Respiration-Related Problems.
If you have respiration-related problems like difficulty in breathing while walking fast, running, climbing in stairs, suffocation problems, Apana Vayu mudra is like a boon for you. This mudra improves lung function, thus, helps to cure such problems.
In conclusion, heart attacks and heart problems are not good signs. These signs are the result of our lifestyle and habits. These signs are an indication that you shout change your lifestyle and habits.
References
- mudra time duration https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5934951/
- Sorbitrate tablet https://www.drugs.com/mtm/sorbitrate.html
- Effect of yoga hand mudra on cardiac and neurological parameters in preventing heart attack http://www.isca.in/rjrs/archive/v6/i2/3.ISCA-RJRS-2017-008.pdf
Is setu bandasana safe and risk free for high bp patients as the blood rushes to the brain while we raise our neck to buttocks ? We donot know how much blood can hold in our brain.
Very interesting information, God bless you.
Doing appan mudra for 40 minutes doesn’t give me complete relief though I feel better. Can I do it for more time. I mean for 20 minutes three times a day. I have been generally doing this mudra after food Is It harmful or less beneficial this way
I have been practising bhramari pranayama and anuloma viloma pranayama for than five years. I am a hard worker also. but blood pressure indicates 190-100 reading, dangerous situation. I cannot understand how it happened. My father had high BP controlled by medicine. I am 68 years of age
Hi, please consult your doctor for any personal advice, or I must say, for better consultation! However, in older people, high blood pressure is very common, even though you’re physically sound very well.
Bharmari, anulom vilom, and Apana Vayu Mudra, all are safe and beneficial in reducing heart rate and HBP. You will definitely get its benefits; keep practicing it and consult your doctor.
Is there any history for blockage in an artery of the heart after doing this Apana Vayu mudra?
I don’t think so. In contrast to this, this mudra relieves the hardening or clogging of the arteries (arteriosclerosis) as it flushes out excess air that causes constriction of heart arteries.
A healthy person shall do Apana Vayu mudra regularly or are there any restrictions? Plz reply
No, there aren’t any specific restrictions for Apana Vayu Mudra. One can do it regularly for a healthy heart.
How long to wait for food after doing Apan Vayu Mudra? Can anyone please suggest.
Can I do Apana vayu mudra while walking?
Though the body is advised ‘to be still’ while doing any mudra but if you feel you can fix your fingers in this mudra without any shaking, then you can do it while walking slowly.
Dear sir/Madam
I am Vijay and I am suffering from high bp since I was 24. Now I am 34. I do apanvayu mudra.(50 ujjayi breath). Please guide me to cope up with this problem in perspective of apan vayu mudra and other mudra .
Thanx
Along with Apana Vayu Mudra, do regular squeezing of middle fingers of both hands for 5 minutes. Pressure should be moderate and equal from root to the tip of the middle finger. This will surely help you in reducing BP.
Gyan mudra is also beneficial to down the high bp.
Kya uth jane ke turant baad mudra ki ja sakti he… Bina toilet jaye ya fresh hue bager?
Ji Haan, you can do mudras before such morning activities but its better results come if you do it after getting fresh in morning.
But I have been informed that Apana Vayu mudra should never be done while walking. Is this true? Also, I have heard that one should not do this mudra after a meal.
Ramesh, Please share with us some valid resource if you’re sure that Apana Vayu mudra should never be done while walking. We don’t think there is any harm in practicing Apana Vayu mudra while walking. After a heavy meal, you can always give your body a little time to relax & then can practice it.
what are the effects of doing Apaan Vayu Mudra while walking.
Practicing Apana Vayu mudra while walking or before running increases the lung capacity that lets you breathe easier & eventually reduces the risk of heart diseases. Also, the back pain problem after a long walk can be cured if performed this mudra.