Benefits of Shunya Mudra and How to Do it By Dr. Ankit Sankhe

Introduction: 

Yoga is an age-old tradition that has taken over the world. It is practised for physical and mental well-being. It is a holistic approach to health. Yoga includes many forms of expression. Mudras are one of the types of yoga. 

Mudras are practised not only throughout India but are used widely all over the world. The Sanskrit term mudra means gesture or seal. They involve the movement of our fingers, hands, head, and body. Mudras are simple hand gestures believed to have a range of therapeutic benefits. They are said to also positively influence our minds. Mudras are of 5 types, namely hand (hastha), head (mana), postural (kaya), lock (bandha) and base or perineal (adhara). 

Hastha mudras are hand gestures. One such type of hasta mudra is shunya mudra. Shunya mudra is one of the simplest mudras to practise. Let us learn more in detail about shunya mudra.^1–3 

What is Shunya Mudra? 

Shunya mudra is also known as the gesture of emptiness. In English, shunya is associated with openness, emptiness or spaciousness. Shunya, a Sanskrit term, may also be used to refer to the sky or heaven. Thus, shunya mudra is also known as heaven mudra. 

Shunya mudra is practised using the middle finger and the thumb.^2,3 

How to do it? 

To get the optimal benefits of shunya mudra, it is necessary to do it properly. Wearing comfortable clothes while performing mudras is advised. The steps to perform shunya mudra are as follows. 

• Sit in a comfortable position like vajrasana (kneeling pose) or padmasana (lotus pose). Vajrasana is a position where you kneel on the floor with your toes and ankles aligned while sitting on the back of your legs as you exhale. Padmasana is a position in which a person sits in a cross-legged manner and their feet are placed on opposite thighs. 
• Relax your head, neck, and shoulders. 
• Keep your spine as erect as possible. 
• Now, place both your hands on your respective knees. 
• Make sure both your palms are facing upward. 
• Now, fold your middle finger towards your palm in a way where the tip of your middle finger touches the base of your thumb. 
• Next, place your thumb over your middle finger. 
• Keep the remaining fingers straight. 
• Keep your eyes closed and concentrate on your breathing. 
• This mudra should be done simultaneously with both hands. 
• Practise shunya mudra two to three times daily for 5-30 minutes.^2–5 

Do You Know? 

Let us see some interesting facts about shunya mudra: 

• The middle finger represents the space element in our body. Shunya mudra is one of the easiest mudras performed to reduce the imbalance of the space element in our body. 
• Shunya mudra may be practised as a means of spiritual awakening in meditation or pranayama. 
• Shunya mudra is also known as ‘sky surabhi mudra’. 
• Shunya is a Sanskrit term also meaning void.^2–5 

Benefits of Shunya mudra: 

Let us see some potential benefits of shunya mudra:  

Benefits of shunya mudra for hearing loss 

Advancing age brings the tendency for increasing ailments. Deafness or loss of hearing is one of the most common effects of ageing. The hearing loss caused by old age is termed presbycusis. A recent study was done by Taneja in 2021 on presbycusis. The study showed that performing shunya mudra with other pranayama techniques regularly may be a way to a potential recovery from hearing loss. However, further studies are required to check the impact of mudra on vertigo. Therefore, you must consult your doctor if you are suffering from hearing loss.⁶ 

Benefits of shunya mudra for vertigo 

Vertigo is a sudden sensation of losing balance or feeling dizzy, which may be triggered by moving your head in a certain direction too quickly. A study done by Taneja et al. in 2015 showed that shunya mudra might be effective in managing vertigo. Although shunya mudra, with other yoga practices, may be a safe and efficient way to reduce and manage vertigo, more research is needed. Always consult a doctor if you have vertigo.⁷ 

Benefits of shunya mudra for dementia 

Dementia is the impaired ability of a person to think, remember (memory loss) or make decisions on a daily basis. A study done by Taneja in 2015 showed that practising shunya mudra along with other yoga therapies may be a way to slow down the onset of dementia. However, further information is necessary to prove the efficacy of shunya mudra. It is advised to consult a doctor before substituting or replacing traditional care.⁸ 

Benefits of shunya mudra for sensory motor deterioration (loss of sensation and movement) 

Sensory motor deterioration is a condition where there may be a gradual loss of sensation and movement due to ageing. A study was done by Ahmed et al. in 2020 on the sensory-motor deterioration in older drivers. Results showed that shunya mudra along with other yoga practices may be beneficial in improving sensory and motor skills. However, these studies are done in a small population and further information is required to check the efficacy of shunya mudra. It is essential to consult a doctor before replacing shunya mudra for any type of traditional care.⁹ 

Benefits of shunya mudra for tinnitus 

Tinnitus is a kind of noise or ringing you may experience in one or both of your ears. It is often associated with hearing loss. A study by Taneja in 2015 showed that shunya mudra, along with other yoga therapies, might be beneficial in tinnitus management. However, it is vital to carry out more studies to demonstrate the impact of shunya mudra on tinnitus. Consider talking to a professional or a doctor before substituting shunya mudra for any medications.⁸ 

Benefits of shunya mudra for thyroid disorders 

Taneja et al. in 2015, conducted a study in which practising shunya mudra is said to be effective for the management of thyroid disorders. However, further research is necessary to prove shunya mudra’s efficacy in managing thyroid disorders. It is advised to consult a doctor before performing shunya mudra if you have thyroid issues.⁷ 

Yoga practice might be useful to stimulate the mind and body. That being said, it should not be used as an alternative to any medicine. One should not rely on yoga alone to treat any condition. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional who will be able to assess your condition properly. Moreover, it is important to practice and learn yoga under the supervision of a certified yoga teacher to avoid any injuries.   

Risks of Shunya Mudra: 

There weren’t any associated risks or contraindications that have been investigated or reported till date. However, it is important to take necessary precautions before performing shunya mudra. 

• Shunya mudra may increase body heat, so practice under professional supervision. 
• You should not practise shunya mudra for a long time in a single sitting, especially if you are a beginner. 
• If you are performing shunya mudra for any health disorders, make sure not to replace it with any kind of traditional care or medicine. Consult a doctor before self-medicating or replacing any kind of medication for yoga. 
• Pregnant women should practise this mudra with extra precautions. 
• If you have gone through any surgeries recently, it is essential to consult a doctor before performing this mudra. 
• Children and the elderly should perform shunya mudra under the guidance of a certified yoga trainer.³ 

With the guidance of an experienced and certified yoga instructor, we can further analyse the risk factors and continue to practice exercise with precautions. 

Conclusion: 

Mudras are practised for the betterment of our physical and mental being. Shunya mudra, also known as heaven mudra, is one of the easiest hastha mudras. Shunya mudra is believed to reduce the space element in our body. Shunya mudra may reduce hearing loss, improve balance, and manage dizziness. It may also be beneficial for thyroid disorders and might play a role in reducing tinnitus (ringing in the ears). Although shunya mudra may have a plethora of benefits, it is recommended to always perform shunya mudra under professional guidance.  

Frequently Asked Questions: 

References: 

1. White DG. Yoga, brief history of an idea. Yoga in practice. 2012;5(1):1-23. http://whitelotus.m4interactive.com/sites/default/files/articles/history-and-evolution-of-yoga-by-david-g-white-phd_0.pdf  

2. Carroll C, Carroll R. Mudras of India: a comprehensive guide to the hand gestures of yoga and Indian dance. Singing Dragon; 2012 Aug 15. https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Mudras_of_India/Fn_c9wbLIeAC?hl=en&gbpv=1  

3. Upadhyay RP. Tantropathy. B. Jain Publishers; 2002. https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Tantropathy/zFvyiavru2oC?hl=en&gbpv=1  

4. Raghupathi KV. Theory and Practice of Hastha Yoga. International Journal of Science and Consciousness. 2016; 2(3):33-41. https://web.archive.org/web/20180421002448id_/http://ijsc.net/docs/issue5/theory_and_practice_of_hastha_yoga.pdf  

5. Kumar SN, Venu A, Jaya MH. Effect of yoga mudras in improving the health of users: A precautionary measure practice in daily life for resisting the deadly COVID-19 disease. InLessons from COVID-19 2022 Jan 1 (pp. 41-59). Academic Press. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780323998789000017  

6. Taneja MK. Presbycusis. Indian Journal of Otology. 2021 Jul 1; 27(3):121. https://www.indianjotol.org/article.asp?issn=0971-7749;year=2021;volume=27;issue=3;spage=121;epage=123;aulast=Taneja  

7. Taneja MK, Qureshi S. Holistic approach to deafness. Indian Journal of Otology. 2015 Jan 1;21(1):1.  https://indianjotol.org/article.asp?issn=0971-7749;year=2015;volume=21;issue=1;spage=1;epage=4;aulast=Taneja  

8. Taneja MK. Improving hearing performance through yoga. J yoga phys Ther. 2015; 5(194):2. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mahendra-Taneja/publication/295478888_Improving_Hearing_Performance_through_Yoga_MK_Taneja/links/56cab9c008ae5488f0d95212/Improving-Hearing-Performance-through-Yoga-MK-Taneja.pdf   

9. Ahmed SM, Sheshikala M, Maurya A, Gunjan VK. Sensory-Motor Deterioration in Older Drivers and Their Amelioration Through Various Training Strategies: A Study. Advances in Cybernetics, Cognition, and Machine Learning for Communication Technologies. 2020:291-301. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/340988424_Sensory-Motor_Deterioration_in_Older_Drivers_and_Their_Amelioration_Through_Various_Training_Strategies_A_Study 

Disclaimer: The information included at this site is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional. Because of unique individual needs, the reader should consult their physician to determine the appropriateness of the information for the reader’s situation