Mudras: Yoga in Your Hands
Yoga for the hands--sounds too good to be true. Do it at the office, on  an airplane, lying in bed. Seasoned yoga teacher Gertrud Hirschi has used these  hand postures to ease asthma, relieve flu symptoms, think more effectively,  relieve tension, even have a bowel movement. The possibilities she attributes to  these ancient Indian techniques are endless. Join the tips of the index finger  and thumb: this clears the mind. Switch the thumb to the little finger: this  restores the body's fluid balance. It's not quite that easy, of course. Hirschi  is careful to lay out exercise regimens, related herbal remedies, and associated  affirmations. Like a classroom instructor, she guides with simultaneous  breathing advice and conjures up helpful images. From building character to  healing emotional pain, from bringing luck to connecting with the divine, mudras  can work wonders. Now limber up those digits and lets get into spiritual shape.--Brian Bruya