Hand exercises?

My interest in the hands is now going far beyond what I ever imagined.  I hope that I am not obsessing on the subject, but I can't help myself.

Based on everything that I've read in this forum I am learning that I must take better care of my hands. Not just for reasons of their specific health and appearance. Wear gloves when working in the garden or workshop. Keep nails trimmed and cuticles under control. Use lotion. And so forth. But as a means to keep the mind/brain pliable and healthy. 

I have often heard or read that seniors should endeavor to keep their minds active and healthy by using it. Invariably the example given as a means towards this end is to do crossword puzzles and other similar activities.

I have seen quite a lot of information in the forum on topics such as reflexology and hand/brain spacial relationships. But, are there any specific exercises that have been developed for the purpose of building a better, balanced mind?

I have been searching the Internet for such exercises and I am not finding anything specific. But, there is a lot out there that I feel could be very useful to me.

Some examples:

Yoga - are there specific mudras that exercise the mind?
Chisenbop - the Korean hand/finger counting method
Juggling

I'm thinking that there might also be tactile exercises.
I wonder about the effects of warmth and cold of the hands and the effects on the mind. Is using hot, hot water when hand washing detrimental to the mind?

Could making a conscious effort to use one's non-dominant hand for a day of benefit?

Does anyone have any insights or ideas as to what is possible?

Hello mooky,

do you know the classical indian method regarding this?

google with following words:
1.mudras
2.acupresure

Stalin.v,

As I noted above under yoga, I am aware of such things but so far I have only really seen them as being how to heal ailments in many areas of the body. I was wondering if there was a subset dedicated to the brain and mind.

Somehow I feel that it could be simpler than all that. Finding specific pressure points seems too technical and prone to error by a novice.

I guess my idea is more like weight training for the brain muscle by using hand movements, touch, etc.

But, I will be looking into those. So, thank you. I've added acupressure to my list.

Another thing that I wonder about is how keeping long fingernails effects the use of the hand, and therefore the mind.

In observing how women with long nails perform functions like typing or other manual tasks, I always felt that they get in the way. That, they have to hold their hands in odd positions etc.

Classical guitarists keeping long nails on one hand only is also of interest.

I see this as possibly working as a benefit and/or a detriment. The difficulty may in fact help the brain. Or, wire it up in special ways.

I'm curious.

Hi mooky,

Try to begin with the idea how this mudra was practiced and what principle was behind it. you can find the mudra even in hindu god statues.
Just try to find the principle and philosophy before practicing those. Every weapon in the hand of hindu god explains some philosophy. They can be related to universe, cosmology, principles of ordinary family life, destruction of evil, even palmistry pictorial signs.

here you begin with, inspect the pictures and try to find the meaning of each. There you can find the science which you are looking for.
http://www.google.com/search?q=hindu+god+statue&nomo=1&client=ms-opera-mini&tbs=isch:1&tbm=isch

On the tactile side of things, I note that it has been shown that animals, primarily dogs and cats, have very therapeutic value for seniors and children in hospitals and so forth. A lot of the thinking being that they sense what these people need and are loving and accepting.

But now I am of the belief that the single biggest benefit comes from petting them. That they allow us and seem to enjoy being touched and stroked. It's no wonder we call them "Pets".

YES, Here is the link

http://www.hinduwebsite.com/hinduism/essays/animals.asp

Some interesting research that is somewhat related.

Words, Gestures Are Translated By Same Brain Regions

Mooky said

My interest in the hands is now going far beyond what I ever imagined.
I hope that I am not obsessing on the subject, but I can't help myself.

OH! How I can relate to that!!

Lynn wrote:Mooky said

My interest in the hands is now going far beyond what I ever imagined.
I hope that I am not obsessing on the subject, but I can't help myself.

OH! How I can relate to that!!

I just hope I that I do not end up in a sort of Cheirococcygia (palm cuckoo land). For instance, today I am caught up in looking at the amazing symmetry in my palms and what it means in terms of my personal development. In reading "Cheiro - Palmistry for All", and from what I've read here, the dominant hand is usually different from its sibling. So, what does it mean for me. I might read into it that I am well balanced both in capabilities and failings. Or I might think that it means I am still, after all these years, a clean slate if you will. Able to move in any direction. If I could just pick one. It has me thinking I should read up on Aristophanes "The Birds", Plato, Kant and Schopenhauer. Some other time I think. I'll stick to this for awhile.

Hi Mooky,
I am enjoying your posts very much and I know exactly what you are talking about when you think you are obssessed with hands. I used to think that, especially when I did nothing but read palmistry books, and I mean that literally, for a solid year The main thing, what you mention, is to have an interest and keep the brain active, so you cannot go wrong, as you are very much keeping your brain active. When you say about maybe using the left hand sometime, I am totally right handed and more or less cannot do anything with my left. What do you think about that? I do not like animals, so they would not be theraputic for me. So glad you joined the forum and looking forward to what you post next
Jeanette.

Hi Jeanette,

Thanks for the support. I enjoy reading your posts as well. I read a post where you mentioned your view on animals. I can understand. They can be noisy, messy and unpredictable. But, don't forget, were animals too.

My interest in using the left hand stems from my understanding that our left brain is logical and right brain more artistic, empathetic, etc. And, for the most part, our bodies are divided down the same lines, only reversed. There are methods in eastern philosophies to sort of force the brain to use one side or the other by doing things like breathing through one nostril or the other. Or covering one eye. I've had some success with that in the past. After a long week at a highly technical job, I'd use those kinds of methods to at least put my left brain in the back seat so I could do some art, music, poetry, etc. It really can work.

So, it makes some sense since our dominant hand is tied to the other side of our brains. For me it feels weird to use my left hand for many things like throwing a ball and so forth. But if I force myself to do it as in exercises, I do believe it will help me sort of like weight training. I watched some videos this weekend on hand exercises called Mudras. They are pretty neat. They remind me of a thing we used to do as kids where you locked your fingers together and make what looks like a church. And you'd say, "Here's the church, here's the steeple, open the doors, and there's all the people." (goofy...I know)

I am also wondering whether or not wearing a glove on the left hand only (like Michael Jackson) could have a similar effect. No activity would be required is my thinking. Simply having the left hand feel its presence could make the right half of the brain 'turn on' a little bit more. I'm at least going to try and see how it works. We'll see.

mook

PS. which book do you prefer? I'm reading Cheiro - Palmistry for All at the moment.

Hi Mooky,
Thanks for the reply. There are such a lot of good books. I really liked cheiro's and I have a few, with the exception of about three books I like them all, but I think a must in the collection is Johnny Fincham's Spellbinding Power of Palmistry. I haven't been reading any palmistry books at the moment as I am trying to learn Richard Unger's fingerprint book and getting pretty confused. I have just posted asking for help. In my case I think when I bought the book Richard Unger should have come with it for a while.
Regards,
Jeanette.

stalin.v wrote:Hello mooky,

do you know the classical indian method regarding this?

google with following words:
1.mudras
2.acupresure

I found a nice book today titled "YOGA in your HANDS" by Gertrud Hirschi.

stalin.v you will be pleased to know that the first mudra she details is the Ganesha Mudra

Neat little book. She also gives an associated herbal remedy, sometimes a color and or element and an affirmation. For this one she says Hawthorn strengthens the heart. She says this mudra activates the Fire element and the color red. And the affirmation is "I meet other people with courage, openness, and confidence."