Posted on December 11, 2007 in Yoga Asanas
In Sanskrit ‘Virabhadra’ means warrior. Hence in English it is called as the ‘Warrior Pose.’ This pose is named after the mythic warrior-sage, Virabhadra.
How to practice?
- Stand in mountain pose continuing with your normal breath.
- Jump your feet side ways and sweep your arms out to the both the sides so your ankles are below your wrists.
- Establish your foundation, by pulling your knees and thighs up, tucking your tailbone under, pushing your feet firmly into the floor.
- Visualise an imaginary line running vertically down the centre of your body, dropping your shoulders.
- Squeeze your arms and legs away from the centreline.
- Keep an awareness of this line as you turn your right foot out to 90 degrees and turn your left foot in to 70 degrees.
- Ensure the heel of your front foot aligns with arch of your back foot, hips facing forward.
- If your body wants to turn off centre, counter-act it by pushing simultaneously in opposite directions from the centre line.
- Inhale, an as you exhale bend your right leg, pulling up with the outside and inside of the thigh to form a right angle at the knee.
- Only go as low as you can with out turning your hips off centre.
- Ideally you want your knee directly above your ankle with you leg coming vertically out of the floor like pillar.
- Keep the power flowing through the back leg into the floor.
- Inhale, lift the spine; exhale, turn your head to look over your right arm. Take a few deep breaths through the nose.
- Hold the pose and breathe smoothly.
- Reverse the procedure back to mountain pose and repeat back to the other side.
Benefits of Virabhadra Asana-the Warrior Pose
- It builds coordination, concentration, balance strength and stamina of the body.
- It stretches legs, ankles, arms, knees joints, and spine.
- It increases the capacity of the respiratory system. This asana may help osteoporosis and relieve sciatic pain.
- Groins, chest, lungs, hip joint, arch of the foot and shoulders are opened and strengthened.
- Arthritis of the spine may be helped.
- It builds shapes and tones the entire lower body and increases circulation in the lower limbs.
- It tones up the nerves and nervous system.
- It helps in digestion and may help relieve constipation.
Contraindications of Vrischika Asana
- If you have knee problems, don’t do this pose or else take the supervision of a qualified teacher
- Don’t do the pose if you have diarrhea, high blood pressure or a sprained or injured ankle.
- If you have neck issues, look straight ahead and do not turn your head to the side.
- Don’t do the pose if you have recent or chronic injury to the hips or shoulders, lower back problems.
Comments
Leave a Reply
