lotus flower hand dance

This week in yoga, we practiced the Lotus Flower hand dance as our mudra. I learned this from my yoga teachers Helen and Tamina, and by Donna at a yoga fellowship group I attended. I recall it coming from a book about yoga for arthritis that was no longer in print. I’ve searched extensively to find it and unfortunately haven’t been able to. 

When you practice this, notice the dextricity it requires and the gentle movement it supports through fingers, hands, wrists, forearms, elbows, upper arms and shoulders. I hope you enjoy it.

I’ve posted a video to youtube with the words and actions here. Below are the words on their own and further down with the instructions for you to follow if this is helpful 🙏🏻

I hope you enjoy this lovely lotus flower hand dance.

“The lotus flower starts its day in bud.
As the sun comes up its petals begin to open
By midday its face is fully open to the sun.
It draws the suns goodness down into its roots.
A gentle breeze blows it one way, and then the other
No matter how hard the wind blows
The little flower always regains its strength and poise
Tiny fish swim about its roots,
And insects hover overhead,
Looking down at the beautiful flower
Small colourful birds are all around.
They sometimes come to rest on the flower.
As evening approaches,
The little flower draws the day’s goodness into its petals, seals it in,
Before resting for the night.”

Here’s my instructions, with the words interwoven with them:

I practice this sitting with legs crossed or in any other comfortable upright position.

Hands in the cupped Anjali mudra, fingers together.

The lotus flower starts its day in bud.

As the sun comes up its petals begin to open (open the hands at heart centre).

By midday its face is fully open (elbows together, palms open, facing up) to the sun.

It draws the suns goodness down into its roots (hands down, palms facing down, fingertips touching, at base of position)

A gentle breeze blows it one way (right arm to the side, left arm horizontal), and then the other way (change sides)

No matter how hard the wind blows (arms straighten and fingers tips touch the floor)

The little flower always regains its strength and poise (hands come together in cupped Anjali mudra, fingers together)

Tiny fish swim about its roots (hands swim like fish)

And insects hover overhead (arms open out to the sides and above head, thumbs crossed, fingers straight and moving)

Looking down at the beautiful flower (hands crossed at the wrists, palms facing up, cupped, fingers together)

Small colourful birds are all around (open arms out to the sides and hands in chin mudra, fingers facing outwards and together)

They sometimes come to rest on the flower (arms come in and cross at wrists, fingers still in chin mudra, fingers together) hands facing up

As evening approaches (arms out to the side and up above the head, backs of hands together)

The little flower draws the day’s goodness into its petals, seals it in (hands turn to cupped Anjali mudra)

Before resting for the night (hands at heart centre, cupped Anjali mudra, fingers together).

 Namaste, Nicky