Linga Mudra
Interlock the fingers of both hands and raise one thumb straight up, encircled by the other hand. The most warming mudra there is: it raises body heat directly and quickly.
Meaning of the name
The seal of the upright mark. The single raised thumb is the axis — the still vertical around which heat gathers.
How to practise
- 1
Bring the palms together and interlock the fingers of both hands.
- 2
Raise the left thumb straight upward, and encircle it with the index finger and thumb of the right hand.
- 3
Hold the joined hands in front of the chest, elbows away from the ribs.
- 4
Keep a light steady pressure, and breathe normally.
- 5
Drink water before and after. This mudra generates real heat and should be balanced with fluid.
Benefits
- Raises body temperature; effective against chills and cold sensitivity
- Loosens and expels mucus in colds, bronchitis and chest congestion
- Relieves persistent cough and the heaviness of a wet chest
- Assists weight loss when combined with diet and movement
- Builds resistance to seasonal infection through the cold months
What happens in the nervous system
Sustained isometric contraction of the small muscles of both hands raises core temperature measurably — the same shivering-adjacent mechanism the body uses to warm itself, recruited voluntarily. This is one of the few mudras whose primary effect is straightforwardly muscular rather than neurological.
Related practices
KSN Yoga & Healing