In yoga and meditation, specific mudras are used to balance these energetic forces, often with the goal of achieving calm, focus, or even altered states of consciousness. For example, the Gyan Mudra (touching the index finger to the thumb) is used to stimulate wisdom and calm the mind, while the Prana Mudra is believed to increase vitality by activating the energy pathways in the body.
In both modern neuroscience and ancient spiritual practices, the hands are seen as potent instruments for influencing the mind and body. While science explains these effects through hemispheric brain activation, ancient practices frame it in terms of the manipulation of prana or electrical currents that flow through the nadis (energy channels).
Both perspectives, however, agree that subtle manipulations of the body—whether through clenching a fist or performing a mudra—can lead to changes in emotional and mental states. These gestures facilitate healing and the attainment of higher consciousness by tapping into the body's inherent energy systems and redirecting their flow for specific purposes.