Like acupuncture and acupressure, mudras (energetic seals or gestures) are said to influence the flow of energy through the body.
Pushan mudra (the gesture of digestion) is a hand mudra used to activate prana vayu (the energy of receptivity), samana vayu (the energy of digestion and assimilation), and (the energy of elimination). Unlike many other hasta (hand) mudras in which both hands are in the same position, the fingers of the right hand create a receptive position while those of the left hand take a form that represents elimination.
Pushan is a solar deity whose work is to conduct souls to the afterlife. He also appears at times of transition in life, like marriage, relocation, or the birth of a child. Times that may be, well, hard to digest. As such, pushan mudra can be used to help us assimilate and process anxieties that may arise in new phases of life.
On a physical level, pushan mudra—which is associated with the stomach, liver, and gallbladder—is classically practiced as a means to relieve nausea, flatulence, and the aftereffects of rich meals, though it is not meant to replace medical treatment. On emotional and mental levels, when times are changing and we need extra help to better digest life, hand mudras such as pushan can be our “yoga on the go.”
How to Practice Pushan Mudra
Right hand mudraFor upper-GI-tract issues like reflux and belching:
Press the tips of the index and middle fingers to the tip of the thumb. The ring and little fingers remain outstretched, the palm facing up.
For lower-GI-tract issues like gas, bloating, or constipation:
Press the tips of the ring and little fingers to the thumb. The index and middle fingers are left outstretched, palm up.
Left hand mudraThe left hand is the same for all GI issues:
Press the tips of the middle and ring fingers to the tip of the thumb. The index and pinkie fingers remain outstretched, the palm facing up. (One of my daughters suggested that if you forget how to create the hand position, use the mnemonic “left looks like a llama.”)
With the backs of the hands resting on the top of the thighs (in a place that doesn'tcreate tension in the arms or shoulders), increase pressure from the fingertips on the thumb on your inhalation and release the pressure a bit on exhalation for a relaxing effect.
Classically, hand mudras are practiced for 45 minutes a day in five-minute intervals (to balance the five elements), but any time you have can be beneficial. While you can enjoy this handmudra in any body position, I like to practice in (thunderbolt pose) or bhadrasana (gracious pose), a wide-knee kneeling posture with big toes touching, for additional stimulation to the digestive meridians.
Some experiences are definitely harder to digest than others, but classic techniques like breath awareness combined with pushan mudra allow us to simply and subtly move through transitions on all levels of being.
As an enthusiast deeply engaged in yoga, meditation, and alternative healing practices, I've extensively explored various holistic methods, including mudras, to influence the body's energy flow. Mudras, often regarded as energetic seals or gestures, are an integral part of yoga and Ayurveda, aimed at channeling and manipulating prana (life force) within the body.
The description in the provided article aptly discusses Pushan mudra, a hand gesture believed to impact the energetic pathways within the body. Pushan mudra specifically targets the activation of prana vayu, samana vayu, and apana vayu, which respectively correspond to the energies of receptivity, digestion/assimilation, and elimination.
Pushan, associated with a solar deity, is linked to life transitions, resembling moments that might be challenging to assimilate or digest. Hence, employing Pushan mudra is suggested to help individuals navigate these transitions, aiding in the assimilation and processing of anxieties or changes.
On a physiological level, Pushan mudra, focused on the stomach, liver, and gallbladder, is traditionally practiced to alleviate nausea, flatulence, and the aftermath of heavy meals. Emotionally and mentally, it serves as a tool to ease the assimilation of life's transformations.
The instructions for practicing Pushan mudra involve specific hand positions for upper-GI-tract issues and lower-GI-tract issues, employing different finger placements on the thumb. The article recommends maintaining these positions for specific digestive concerns, along with guidance on breathing techniques and suggested postures for enhanced efficacy.
Furthermore, it highlights the classical practice duration of 45 minutes a day in five-minute intervals to balance the five elements. However, it emphasizes the flexibility of timing, suggesting that any duration can be beneficial.
The article also recommends practicing Pushan mudra in body positions such as Vajrasana (thunderbolt pose) or Baddha Konasana (gracious pose) to stimulate digestive meridians further.
In essence, the Pushan mudra, coupled with breath awareness, is depicted as a subtle yet effective technique to navigate life's transitions across physical, emotional, and mental planes, aiding in the assimilation of experiences that might otherwise be challenging to digest.
