Yogis know all too well the relaxation (as well as invigorating) benefits of yoga. But, when it's not practical to roll out the mat or even twist into a seated pose, you might try a mudra, or yoga for the fingers, to help you relax and unwind.

Mudras are the hand gestures of yoga, although healing hand movements are known to many spiritual practices and cultures. And no wonder, since there are 4,000 nerve endings at the tips of the fingers to serve as conduits of energy! Through those nerve endings, mudras connect us to our organs, helping us to balance and relax.

While there are hundreds of mudras, here are a few that help us to relax, calm the mind, and release stress. You can actually do mudras anywhere; at your desk, in the checkout line, even in your car (provided you're stopped, of course) but if you have a moment to find a quiet, private spot, you'll reap even more benefits. You can also practice mudras as many times at day as you wish. If you're just getting started, try to hold the pose for three minutes, twice a day. To help you relax even more take some deep abdominal breaths, inhaling and exhaling through your nose, while holding your mudra.

A simple mudra for relaxation is to press the thumb and index finger of each hand slightly together and hold for one minute. Try to slow down your breath while doing this exercise.

To calm your mind, sit with a straight back and cross your arms in front of your chest, elbows bent at a ninety-degree angle. Arms are parallel to the ground. Place the right palm on top of the left arm and the top of the left hand under the right arm. Fingers are together and straight.

To release and prevent stress, sit straight, relax you arms, bending your elbows to bring your forearms in front of you and parallel to the ground. Bring your hands, palms up, just above your navel and rest the back of the left hand in the palm of the right hand. Keep fingers straight and together and breathe.