Mudras Mudras are added to gain even more control over the flow of energy. However, full Self-realization may already be gained by practicing faithfully the Mantras given for regular Meditation. Life-force, or Prana as Yogis call it, is the energy of Awareness. Energy and Awareness are the two sides of the same coin which is the basis of the whole universe. When all matter is destroyed, energy is what remains.
Energy is the original form of all matter.
Awareness is the other original since no dead matter nor life-less energy could have produced Awareness, as the materialists and atheists have us believe, unless Awareness was already inherent. An important aspect of any Yoga system is to balance the negative and the positive currents of this energy.