Surya Mudra
The ring finger is folded away and pressed by the thumb: earth down, fire up. This is the mudra of metabolism — of weight, digestion, cold hands, sluggish thyroid and heavy mornings.
Meaning of the name
The seal of the sun — also called Agni Mudra, the seal of fire. It burns off what is heavy.
How to practise
- 1
Fold the ring finger down until its tip touches the base of the thumb.
- 2
Press the thumb over it with steady, moderate pressure.
- 3
Keep the index, middle and little fingers straight.
- 4
Practise on an empty stomach, twice daily, sitting upright.
- 5
Combine with a brisk walk or Surya Namaskara for a compounding effect.
Benefits
- Raises the metabolic rate and assists steady, sustainable weight loss
- Improves digestion and reduces the heaviness after meals
- Warms cold hands and feet; helpful in winter and for those who feel the cold
- Supports thyroid function where the picture is sluggish
- Reduces cholesterol and the tendency to accumulate fat around the middle
- Lifts mental dullness, procrastination and the inability to begin things
What happens in the nervous system
The thyroid axis and the sympathetic nervous system together set resting metabolic rate. Warming practices — this mudra, kapalabhati, Surya Namaskara, sun exposure at dawn — all nudge sympathetic tone slightly upward in the morning, which is precisely when it should be highest. Much of what we call sluggishness is a circadian signal arriving late.
Related practices
KSN Yoga & Healing