Our hands are a source of tremendous power. With such profound dexterity, sensitivity and utility the human hands may be one of our most defining features as a species. Playing guitar, delivering a baby, knitting a sweater, building a house, wielding a sword, painting intricate figures: through the use of our hands we create and shape the world we live in. Hands can heal, hands can harm. One touch can convey a wide array of thoughts, feelings or intentions. Hands tell the story of our mood or state of mind. When we feel angry, a clenched fist; when anxious, fidgeting fingers. Even plants and animals respond to the subtle nuances of our touch.
With the hands playing such a central role in our experience of being human, it comes as no surprise that many of the world’s great spiritual and artistic traditions have considered the hands as sacred. With five digits, twenty-seven bones, and fifteen joints—plus numerous carpal joints affording articulation of the wrist—the human hand is a masterpiece of nature. Perhaps, this is why many cultures throughout history viewed the human hand as a perfect microcosm of the universe. Naturally endowed with an exceptional capacity to create, manipulate material, and express nuances, our hands are amongst the most sensitive parts of our body (along with our feet, genitals, and mouth. See Cain Carroll’s recent blog about the feet).
And yet, in the modern era, most of us had deserted so many of our natural “handiwork” capacities cultivated to mastery by our ancestors, and are yielding to using our hands in far fewer ways than we can. As a result, the range of motion of our wrists, and the strength and flexibility of our fingers diminished. On a physical level, many develop repetitive motion syndromes such as carpal tunnel, and on an energetic-spiritual level, we lose some of our inner potency. The strength and agility of our hands is one of our “superpowers” and without it, we may feel ”less than” in ways we don’t always fully understand. Our hands need exercise and attention, and by using them to express and create we can tap into new dimensions of grace and power and directly awaken the spring of creativity within us. Happy hands equal a happy heart and a calm spirit.
In Mudras of Dance Master Course, our main objective will be learning the traditional applications of each of the foundational fifty-two hand mudras of Indian dance. Yet, in the process, I will be teaching potent exercises to develop greater articulation of our fingers and wrists joints. We will take a deep dive into the vast universe literarily waiting for us at the “tip of our fingers,” and you will find the dexterity of your hands returning to its natural and healthy state. Whether you are a dancer or not, I find hand mudras can serve as an incredible tool to develop both strength and agility that will enable you to express with greater grace and precision.
The creative capacity contained in the hands is accessible to anyone. I invite you to join me in Mudras of Dance Master Course to further cultivate your understanding of hand gestures and bring more beauty and devotion to your life.
This course is offered at a special introductory rate if purchased by July 15th, 2020. Don’t miss out on SAVING $70 NOW!