Yoga Asana for the Hands: Seal of Salutation



Complexity: Suitable for Beginners.

Duration: 5 Minutes

Although soothing your mind and relieving tension and fear, the salutation seal extends your fingertips, wrists, and limbs.

  1. Standing in mountain pose is a good place to start. Stand erect and upright, with enough space between your feet to feel stable.
  2. Shift the weight distribution so that it is evenly distributed between the base of your big toes, the base of your little toes, and both the left and right sides of your heels to provide a strong link with the ground.
  3. Inhale deeply and bring the hands together, fingertips raised.
  4. Draw your palms inwards into your body, eventually resting your thumbs on the top of your chest. Make sure the palms and fingertips are evenly pressed together, and that neither hand is pushing harder than the other.
  5. Slightly lower your shoulders, extending the back of your neck through your skull.
  6. Raise the top of your chest into your thumbs as you inhale, then lengthen your armpits by drawing your elbows down.
  7. Before returning to mountain pose, you may want to stay in this posture for up to five minutes.