Prana Vayu works in different ways for different organs and places of the body. From this point of view, they have also been given different names like Prana, Apana, Samana, Udana, and Vyana. This air community functions differently in five major centers. The prana space is primarily in the joy center in the heart. Prana extends from the navel to the throat. The functions of Prana are breathing, exhalation, digestion of the food eaten, separation of the juice of the food into different units, making juice out of the food, and forming other Dhatus from the juice.
While Apana is the center of health and strength, Yoga calls it the Muladhara Chakra. The function of Apana is to expel feces, urine, semen, womb, and rajas. It helps in dynamic positions like sleeping, sitting, getting up, walking, etc. Just as earning is necessary for life, similarly, immersion is also essential for life.
If there is only the system of earning in the body, if there is no immersion, then it becomes difficult for a person to survive even for a day. The body purifies itself through immersion. If the process of body immersion is stopped for one, two, or three days, then the whole body becomes emaciated. In such a condition it becomes difficult for a person to remain healthy. This mudra is a very important action to protect human health. Because it regulates an important requirement of a healthy body – the excretion process and makes the body pure. That is, Apana mudra purifies impurity and filth. Let us learn how Apana Mudra is done and what are its benefits.
Method of doing Apana Mudra:
- Sit in Sukhasana or any other meditation posture. Keep both hands on the knees, keep the palms facing upwards and keep the spine straight.
- Fold the index finger (thumb dice) finger of the hand and place it on the tip of the thumb and press lightly by touching the first knuckle of the middle (middle finger) and ring finger (third finger) finger with the first knuckle of the thumb.
- The little finger (smallest finger) will remain straight.
And if you want to learn different types of yoga asanas then you can learn at the Yoga in Rishikesh.
Mudra time and duration:
Both prana and Apana have importance in the body. The goal of yoga is to make both prana and Apana equal. The union of both prana and Apana creates stability in the mind. The best time to do Apan Mudra is morning, afternoon, and evening. You can do this mudra for a total of 48 minutes in a day. You can also do 16 minutes three times a day.
Health Benefits of Apana Mudra:
- Apana mudra is a panacea for heart diseases, it makes the heart strong. That is why it is also called Heart Mudra.
- According to acupressure, its pressure center point cures respiratory diseases.
- This mudra ends stomach-related problems, it is very beneficial in diseases like indigestion, gas, acidity, and constipation.
- It is helpful in removing air disorders and diabetes.
- This removes the defects and pain in the teeth.
- It removes body heat by sweating.
- The body and nerves are purified.
- The feces and impurities are immersed and purity is achieved.
- It removes urine-related defects.
Special things about Apana Mudra:
By doing this mudra with both hands, full benefits can be availed. But if for some reason one hand is engaged in another work, then this mudra can be done with one hand also. Although doing it with one hand does not give as much benefit as doing it with both hands, it is definitely beneficial. The defects of prana, Apana, Samana, Udana, and Vyana Vayu can be refined by Apana mudra.
Precautions during Apana Mudra:
Apan mudra is a powerful mudra, in which three elements are combined with the fire element, so it should not be done for more than a certain time. Also, more urine can come from this posture.