There are many Mudras; we will deal with five utility Mudras helpful in daily prayers, meditation and asana. These are:

(a) Jnana Mudra.    The word Jnana means wisdom.  This is performed during   meditation.   Sit in a meditative pose, close the eyes, place the hands on the knees, the hands should be facing the ground.   Fold the index finger to touch the base of the thumb.   The arms and the hands should be relaxed. If the hand is reversed facing upwards it becomes chin Mudra.  These Mudras when adopted during the practice of meditation allows free flow of energy from the body to the other psyche centers.   It harmonizes and balances the prana in the body.

(b) Bhairva Mudra.      Place the right hand on top of the left hand; the palms of both the hands should be facing upwards.   Both the hands should rest in the laps.  The hands can be changed if tired. This is one of the meditative poses. 

(c) Yoga Mudra.   Sit comfortably in padmaasana; those who cannot perform padmaasana can sit in any other asana.   Inhale and feel the breath rise up the spine from the muldhara chakra to the ajna chakra.   Bring your awareness upon the ajna chakra, exhale slowly, hold the right wrist with the left hand behind the back and bend forward till the forehead touches the ground.   While bending feel the breath move down from the ajna chakra to the muldhara chakra.  In the final position complete breath should be expelled.  Retain the breath outside for sometime and getups slowly inhale and watch the movement of the breath along the spinal column from the ajna chakra to the muldhara chakra.   Repeat this Mudra at least three times.    This Mudra is helpful in integrating the outer self with the inner self as such calms the mind smoothens the nerves and the brain thus it is very helpful before start of meditation.

(d) Vipreet Karani Mudra.  Get into the shoulder stand pose except the hands should be supporting the buttocks at the back.  Bring the awareness to the manipura chakra along the back behind the navel region.   Inhale deeply bringing the awareness from the manipura chakra to the vishuddhi chakra situated in the throat pit.  During exaltation maintain the awareness on the vishuddhi chakra, after the exhalation bring the awareness to the manipura chakra.  This Mudra has to be practiced for a long time and the duration of the rounds can be started from three postures and increased to twenty.  Persons suffering from heart ailments and blood pressure should not practice this Mudra.    This is an anti-gravitational posture as such very good for the circulatory system.   It increases the appetite and digestion.  Circulation in the brain is increased and it helps in rejuvenating the brain cells counteracts cerebral insufficiency and improves mental capabilities.  

(e) Ashvani Mudra.  Sit comfortably, close the eyes and relax.  Breathe normally and bring the mind upon the anus, now contract the sphincter muscle for a few seconds, relax and continue the practice for some time.   One must not strain the anal muscles.  People suffering from fistula should not perform this Mudra.    This Mudra relieves constipation and piles.    It lubricates the anal cavity and helps in rejecting excreta.

    All the foregoing asana, pranayama, bandhs and mudras can be performed easily and without much by the persons who are healthy. People with ailments must consult qualified yogi before starting the practices.

   The above yogic practices not only keep the body healthy but they also stimulate the various layers of the bodies and vitalize the chakras situated along the spine.