Namaste Everyone. This month we are focussing on one interesting aspect of Yoga. In yoga, animal plays an important role and there are many postures which carry the names of animal. Animal sit and stretch in different kinds of positions. Unlike us they don’t sit on furnitures and so, amusingly, they dont suffer from various kind of illness like tightening of hamstrings and lower back that we humans see quite often. Perhaps our intelligence and industrialization which is supposed to bring happiness and comfort is not helping us anyway rather bringing imbalance in the ecosystem and gifting us anxiety, pain, stress and unwanted competition. Ancient yogis observed animals in nature; their abilities and beauty. And so, yogis took on these example from the animals and transformed it into asanas giving expressions to various energies and poses that animals represent.
This month we are going to focus on Kapotasana or Pigeon Pose. In Sanskrit ‘kapota‘ means ‘Pigeon’ and ‘asana’ means ‘pose’. This pose is from the Ashtanga tradition and is an advanced asana which resembles Chakrasana, or Wheel Pose. Kapotasana is an asana which helps to open up the chest and also strengthens the back and groin. It opens and increases the flexibility of the hips, at Namaste everyone.
Steps for Kapotasana
Breathing:
· Inhale deeply when leaning forward.
· Hold the breath or breathe normally in the final position.
· Exhale while releasing the arms.
Awareness: on the stretch in the back , or on the normal breath if holding the posture.
Contra-indications: People with severe knee pain should not practice this asana.
Benefits:
- First put down your Knee on the floor and your spine should be erect.
- Now gently stretch your right leg in backward direction (behind you).
- Keep extending your right leg until your left knee and foot are adjacent to the right hip.
- Keep stretching your right leg until your left knee and foot are adjoining the right hip
- Make sure that your toes ought to be pointed.
- After that you have to lean forward and breathe in deeply.
- Now push your mid – section (chest) outwards.
- Remain in the position about 20-25 seconds.
- Now switch (change) your leg and repeat the same process with your opposite leg.
- After that sit in Padmasana and rest for while and repeat the process 4 times with your both legs.
- Pigeon Pose stretches and strengthens the joints and muscles in your legs.
- Helps to reduce stiffness in the back and hips.
- Kapotasana balances the blood pressure and also reduces the effects of chronic diseases.
- Releases stress and calms the mind and the body.
