Sunday, May 11, 2008
Friday, April 25, 2008
KANDAPEEDANASANA – SITTING POSTURE
This asana is difficult to perform. This asana presses the Kanda (the place near the navel). So it is called Kandapeedanasana.
Technique:
Sit on the floor. Bend the legs at the knees. Bring the feet towards the trunk until the heels are close to the perineum, and the knees on the floor. Join the palms in the front of the chest. Keep the trunk erect. Keep the nose, the palms and the feet in a vertical straight line. Breathe in the normal way. This asana should be practiced with caution. Persons whose thighs and calves are heavy will find it difficult to practice this asana. Those having a slim body can perform this asana comfortably.
Advantages:
(1) (1) This asana cures all kinds of ailments and disorders of the knees. It also cures arthritis.
(2) (2) It strengthens the calves, arteries and veins.
(3) (3) It stimulates Kundalini Shakti
(4) (4) This asana is the same as Padmasana or Siddhasana, so it has all the benefits of Padmasana and Siddhasana.
PADANGUSTHASANA – SITTING POSTURE
In ancient times, the persons who lived in Gurukulas and observed celibacy used to practice this asana regularly. With Sheershasana and Sarvangasana, this asana has been given special importance by our sages for the preservations of the semen.
Persons having physical obesity will find it difficult to practice this asana. They may fall on either side while performing this asana. But with constant practice steadiness can be maintained.
Technique:
Place the left heel between the anus and the scrotum. Let the weight of the whole body rest on the feet, particularly on the left foot. Place the right foot on the left leg near the knee. Keep the balance while in sitting posture. A bench or a wall can be used as a support in the beginning. Place both the hands on the waist or the thighs, or keep them in the obeisance posture. Retain the breath. Keep the spine erect. Then inhale slowly. Stare at or concentrate on a white or black dot specially kept for this purpose before the eyes. Repeat silently the japa of Rmanamma or some gurumantra. Begin practicing this asana with 3o seconds and gradually increase it to one minute.
Advantages:
(1) (1) As this asana stimulates Veeryanadi, it cures physical disorders like wet-dreams (spermatorrhoea), impotence and diabetes.
(2) (2) The semen is sublimated by practicing this asana and it changes into vital energy.
(3) (3) If this asana is practiced along with Sheershanasa, Saravangasana and Bhujangasana, it helps one in observing celibacy.
GOMUKHASANA – SITTING POSTURE
‘Go’ means a cow. ’Mukha’ means face. When this asana is performed, the performer’s posture resembles a cow-head. So it is called Gomukhasana. This is one of the eighty-four asanas.
Technique:
Place the left heel on the left side of the anus. Bend the right leg in such a way that the right knee rests on the left knee and the sole of the right foot touches the lower part of the left thigh. Practice will enable you bring the right heel to the left thigh. Take the left arm to the back, bend it at the elbow and bring it upward. Now, raise the first and the second fingers of the left hand. Lower the first and the second fingers of the right hand. If the fingers slip away, try again for two minutes to bring them to the position. Breathe slowly. Keep the trunk and the head in a straight line. Change the hands in turn. A fat man will find it difficult to perform this asana. But constant practice will enable him to practice the asana comfortably. Practise this asana four times in the first week. Later, gradually increase the frequency and practice it six times. Gradually, increase the duration till the limit of fifteen minutes is reached.
Advantages:
(1) (1) As this asana involves all the three Bandhas, Jalandhara Bandha, Uddiyana Bandha and Moola Bandha strongly, Sushumna Nadi naturally gets an abundant flow of oxygen with the result that there is control over the sense organs.
(2) (2) Tumour in the axilla is dissolved by this asana.
(3) (3) This asana is in the category of Padmasana and Siddhasana and, therefore, the advantages which can be obtained from Padmasana and Siddhasana can be obtained from this asana also.
(4) (4) This asana cures rheumatic arthritis of the lower legs and fissure.
(5) (5) This asana cures constipation, dyspepsia, loss of appetite, backache and arm-sprain.
(6) (6) This asana helps in observing celibacy and keeping sound health.
(7) (7) Moola Bandha stops automatically in this asana and so it is very helpful for practicing Pranayama.
(8) (8) This asana is useful for longtime mediation
(9) (9) Joints become flexible and the bones become strong.
(10) (10) This asana strengthens the chest, the lungs and the heart.
MANDUKASANA – SITTING POSTURE
While performing this asana, the body takes the shape of a frog. So this asana is called Mandukasana.
Technique:
Take the legs backwards. Let the feet touch each other. Stretch the knees on both the sides. Rest the hands as shown in the figure. Keep the knees as part as possible. Remain the trunk straight. Look straight and breathe normally. Remain in this position for eight to twelve seconds. Perform this asana twice in the first week. Later, practice this asana four times.
Advantages:
(1) (1) This asana is effective in reducing the weight of the things, hips and the abdomen.
(2) (2) This asana strengthens the lower parts of the loins.
(3) (3) This asana increases sexual ability. It removes the defects of the reproductive system of women.
(4) (4) This asana stimulates the digestive system.
(5) (5) The benefits which Padmasana gives can be obtained from this asana also.
SIMHASANA – SITTING POSTURE
Simhasana is one of the eighty-four asanas. This asana is also called Bhairavasana. The face posture of this asana, when followed in Vajrasana and Bhadrasana, is known as Simhasana.
Technique:
Bend the legs from the knees and bring them on the backside. Sit on the heels. The heels must be on both the sides of the hips. Let the distance between the knees be six inches. Place the right palm on the right knee and the left palm on the left knee. Begin exhaling through the nose and the mouth stretching the tongue out from the mouth. Exhaling should be completed as soon as the process of stretching the tongue out from the mouth is completed. Do not breathe now. Keep the trunk erect. Stretch all the facial muscles and widen the eyes in such a way that the face appears frightening. Look straight. Stay in the pose for about six to eight seconds. In the first week, perform this exercise twice a day. Gradually, with practice, increase it to four times a day.
Advantages:
(1) (1) This asana is very useful for increasing the power of memory
(2 (2) This asana works as a medicine for throat-trouble or voice-trouble. It also cures tonsillitis.
(3) (3) It has also a good effect on the respiratory system and on the larynx.
(4) (4) This asana helps to cure all the diseases of the chest and the abdomen.
(5) (5) This asana is recommended to persons suffering from stammering. It is beneficial to the eyes, the nose and the skin.
(6) (6) This asana increases the beauty and lustre of the skin.
(7) (7) This asana has all the advantages of Vajrasana.
SIDDHASANA – SITTING POSTURE
This asana is performed mostly by the Siddhas – semi divine begins. This is the reason why this asana is called Siddhasana. The main function of this asana is to awaken the power of Kundalini (annual power residing in the mystical circle above the reproductive organs).
Technique:
Sit on the floor, with legs stretched straight in front. Bend the left leg, hold the left heel, and place it near the perineum. The sole of the left foot should be placed against the right thigh. Now bend the right leg and place the right foot on the left ankle. The heel of the right foot should be placed at the root of the genitals. Place the back of the hands on the knees so that the palms face upward. Join the tip of the thumb and the index finger of each hand. Keep the spine straight and erect. Let the head, the neck and the spine be erect and in the straight line. Look downwards. Bend the neck low so that the chin touches the lower part of the throat.
Advantages:
(1) (1) This asana awakens kundalini Shakti. It purifies all the nadis ( tubular channels) in the body through Shaktichalana Mudra.
(2) (2) The asana is good for curing indigestion, Chronic fever, dysentery, Heart-disease, tuberculosis, asthma, diabetes, etc.
(3) (3) The diseases which can be cured by Padmasana can also be cured by this asana.
(4) (4) This asana is useful for the cure of stiffness in the joints of the lions.
(5) (5) This asana helps the mind to be firm, attentive and alert
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