Healing Mudras : Yoga for Your Hands

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Summary: Question to a writer?
Review: Dear Sabrina, I have a question regarding the "historical" information you cite about the unknown Armenian king (p4) in your book "Healing Mudras." You state that his reply to the question what he would take home was, "the hand dancer, because he speaks better with hands than my people do with words." I am curious to know which Armenian king you are referring to and what reliable source you've used for this information in your non fiction book. I enjoyed your book, but I am concerned about other readers who might be misinformed by a story that is not based on historical facts and is not cited as a possible legend.

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Summary: Simple, Practical, Powerful
Review: Finally, a book that provides practical use of ancient healing yoga. The focused descriptions alongside the corresponding chakras, and photos make this book a modern classic--easy to read, easy to use, powerful results!

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Summary: Great starter on mudras
Review: I had spent too much time with the windows of my room closed. I wondered why I always found it so hard to concentrate and why I felt so sleepy when I was reading or studying for a college class. The first time I practiced a couple of mudras in a row, I felt very energized and alert. Ever since I have started practising two mudras every morning before I start my day. It feels wonderful. I have noticed that I am no longer moody. Sabrina has written a great book. Though it doesn't describe the meaning of each mudra in depth, the instructions and photos make it easy to do the mudras.

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Summary: Peace to my health
Review: I have found new and wonderful healing techniques through Sabrina Mesko's book Healing Mudras. In my day to day life filled with stress and deadlines, her breathing and hand exercises have helped me to release these tensions and balance my life. Only a few minutes a day and I feel such relief and freedom, as if I stopped and smelled the flowers. I recommend this book to anyone feeling the overwhelming pressures of a busy life - it's visual, accessable and the results are instant. Ah, to learn how to breathe and focus again...truly a gift.

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Summary: Great book
Review: I really like this book, which I use in conjunction with Sabrina's video on the same subject. It contains exercises that I haven't seen elsewhere. The book contains some details that are missing from the video eg which chakras to concentrate on, which colours to visualize and which mantras to use and other guidelines for practice. On the other hand, the video shows precisely how to execute a good selection of the mudras. Before I got the video, I wasn't quite sure how fast and deep I should do the different breaths.

I found the mudras were effective right from the beginning, but their effects only intensify, the more you do them. I really feel recharged after a tiring day at the office after doing a few of these. I find that they clear my mind and prepare me for meditation, if I feel like doing it, or just relaxing. I hope that Sabrina writes another book soon. She is a good example of what she teaches, with her flawless complexion and clear eyes.

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Summary: Simple hand gestures for coping with stress and more
Review: In Healing Mudras: Yoga for Your Hands, author Sabrina Mesko describes how the use of simple hand gestures, or mudras, can help you cope with many of life's challenges, from preventing stress to healing a broken heart to calming your mind. The book is divided into sections on Soul, Body, and Mind, with each section offering at least 15 individual mudras. "Soul" includes meditation-focused mudras such as Happiness, Love, and Trust, whereas the "Body" section focuses more on specific ailments (eg, Protecting Your Health, Preventing Burnout, Eliminating Fatigue, etc.). Finally, the "Mind" mudras address mostly emotional well-being, including Releasing Guilt, Overcoming Anxiety, Diminishing Worries, and Removing Depression. Each individual mudra is given a 2-page layout which includes an overview of benefits, meditation points for the mudra (ie, chakras, colors, and mantras), and a large photo captioned with clear, concise directions for performing the mudra.

Mesko recommends practicing mudra for just 3 minutes a day to start, eventually building up to a 31 minunte daily practice. Although I haven't engaged in a regular mudra practice as she suggests, I have found that taking a few minutes to perform these simple hand movements does leave me feeling more calm and centered. If you are looking for a simple, easy method to add a bit of self-care and inner focus to your daily life, this book is an excellent place to start.

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Summary: The photos alone are worth the price of the book
Review: Performing the exercises in this book will improve your dexterity and possibly even contribute to better performance, say, on a computer keyboard or playing a musical instrument. Whether the hand poses actually enhance psychological/spiritual areas, as the author claims, I can't confirm, as my discipline is all over the place and I practice the mudras sporadically and in various combinations. The exercises are definitely worth doing, and they relieve the stress and tension in my hands better than the massages I'd been getting. That said, the delightful photographs of the author in a range of costumes with complementary make-up and sets make the book fun on an entirely different level. The images evoke (for me) Emma Peel, Madama Butterfly, Mata Hari and Barbarella. These photos are so cool I find myself gazing at them and meditating upon the meaning of, say, the turn of a wrist or the lift of an eyebrow. Not only is Sabrina Mesko introducing and promoting mudras to the west, but she is reviving the art of hand-dancing in a spectacular way.

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Summary: A wonderful starter!
Review: The mudras are great and this book is so easy to follow. I guess that I am a little biased because I got to see Sabrina Mesko in person and attend a class--she was great and it really helped me get in the habit of doing mudras. And they really work!

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Summary: A gift
Review: This book found me at the right place and at the right time. I feel ready for everything that the author has to offer. I think that the book is wonderful, I feel thankful because I came across this book. The book essentially consists of meditations that provide guidence and help with various needs you might have. It is for your soul or spirit, it is for your body and also for your mind and emotional needs. There are mudras ranging from connecting with the universal energy, prosperity, and higher consciousness to anti-aging, healing, stong nerves and facing fear, taking away hardships...and many many more! It works on many levels. All mudras are connected to the knowledge of chakras, colors. Some mudras include visualizations and the use of positive affirmations and mantras (ancient Sanskrit healing words). I would like to thank the author of the book for sharing her knowledge and teaching others. The book helps me to find joy and piece within me- and it moves me to share it with others too. But I believe we are all taking different paths, so see for yourself.

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Summary: Quick Stress Relief
Review: With yoga, I realize the stress-relieving and relaxing effects from regular practice. I was skeptical when I saw this book and thought oh, a few hand movements can't compare to the type of relaxation I get from yoga. However I always like to try new things so of course I bought the book. :-)

One evening I felt particularly stressed and decided to try some of the mudras for my immediate needs. Only a few minutes later I was feeling more centered, relaxed and at ease. I've only practiced a few times so far, and each time I've experienced great relief from whatever was bothering me. And if you like a challenge you'll like practicing the exercises - contrary to what I thought, it's challenging at first to hold some of the hand poses for more than a minute or two.

I recommend this book to anyone who needs stress relief in a short period of time. There are many other mudras for amazing things like compassion, healing a broken heart, for releasing guilt, longevity, etc. In addition to regular exercise and healthy diet, I look forward to exploring the exercises in this book throughout my life to help whenever there is imbalance, and to adding a few specific ones to my daily routine.