The Cobra Pose ? (Bhujangasana)
?The Cobra pose destroys all diseases and increases body heat?.
In a Sanskrit language Bhujanga means a cobra hence the name, mostly used in the West. In the Bhujangasana the body is facing downward while the upper body is curling up and back resembling a snake with its head raised ready to strike. This pose is mostly practiced as the first in the series of backward bending asanas followed by Locust and Bow postures.
Before attempting this powerful movement of the Cobra pose the warm up of the muscles of the back is strongly recommended. During holding the pose the legs do not remain passive; they are extended down from the hips. While you start lifting your upper body from the floor be aware of the point where you have extended as far as you can without straining your back. Keep your elbows slightly bent and do not push it up over your zone limit. The best way to check if you are not too high is to take your hands off the floor for a moment so that the height you find will be comfortable and safe.
During Bhujangasana the spine receives a powerful backward stretch which increases flexibility of the spine, strengthens the spine and rejuvenates the spinal nerves. Each vertebra of the spine is given a rich supply of the blood. This posture is excellent tonic for women as it tones the ovaries and uterus and it helps to alleviate the menstrual problems. By regular practice of the Cobra pose the backache can be removed.
Three important reasons not to do the Cobra pose:
1) This asana should not be attempted by pregnant women at all cost.
2) A person suffering from Hernia should not practice this pose.
3) If you have injured your back please, avoid this posture.
Issued in the interest of people practicing Hatha Yoga by Subodh Gupta, Yoga Expert based in London.
Mr. Subodh Gupta, consultant with The Times of India group and has conducted more than 500 workshops on Yoga and Stress Management. He has been interviewed by various TV channels in India and London.
For reaching to Subodh Gupta website http://www.subodhgupta.com/ and for Subodh Gupta article webpage http://www.subodhgupta.com/yogaarticle.html
Showing posts with label Cobra. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cobra. Show all posts
March 1, 2009
3 Quick and Easy Pre-Yoga Stretching Techniques
All muscles tend to tighten up when idle, particularly the long muscles in your legs, back, and the sides of your body between your hips and your armpits. Sitting for a long time in the same position at a desk or bench will often stiffen neck or shoulder muscles. Such stiffness creates tension in the body and can even influence your state of mind. But the most common danger of stiff muscles is that sudden movement that may cause damage. The following are some popular stretchers:
Bend and Sway
With your feet apart and your hands on your hips, bend the upper body to the left; then bend back as far as you can go, then to the right, and then forward. bend to the left again and repeat. After several bends, reverse direction and do several more. You should feel the muscles stretching on both sides of your body. Clasping your hands behind your neck or above your head will increase the stretching benefit.
From the same starting position as above, sway, do not rotate, from one side to the other. Extending the arms high above the head will give you maximum benefit.
Wing Flaps
To loosen the shoulder muscles, stand with your elbows out and your fists together in front of you about neck high. Your forearms should be parallel to the floor. Slowly pull your fists apart, and bring your elbows back as far as they will go. Do several smooth repetitions. Raising or lowering the level of your arms will spread the stretch up and down your shoulders.
Some other good stretchers include the bend, the groin stretch, the propeller, and the cobra.
Bend
Begin with your feet together and knees straight but relaxed. Bend slowly form the waist with your fingers pointing to your toes and your head bowed. When you have reached the farthest you can hold for 10 seconds. Then rise very slowly to a straight-up position. Repeat.
If the muscles along the back of your legs are very tight, do not expect to touch your toes right away. Just make sure that those leg muscles get a good stretch, and you will enjoy daily improvements.
Variation 1: Bend slowly forward and clasp your hand hands behind your legs. Pull your body down slowly by bending your elbows out.
Variation 2: Clasp your hands behind your legs even lower than in variation 1. Pull your body down slowly.
For both variations, hold for 10 seconds.
Want to learn about hatha yoga and more? Visit http://heyayoga.com/blog/index.phpto learn about yoga and hatha yoga.
Bend and Sway
With your feet apart and your hands on your hips, bend the upper body to the left; then bend back as far as you can go, then to the right, and then forward. bend to the left again and repeat. After several bends, reverse direction and do several more. You should feel the muscles stretching on both sides of your body. Clasping your hands behind your neck or above your head will increase the stretching benefit.
From the same starting position as above, sway, do not rotate, from one side to the other. Extending the arms high above the head will give you maximum benefit.
Wing Flaps
To loosen the shoulder muscles, stand with your elbows out and your fists together in front of you about neck high. Your forearms should be parallel to the floor. Slowly pull your fists apart, and bring your elbows back as far as they will go. Do several smooth repetitions. Raising or lowering the level of your arms will spread the stretch up and down your shoulders.
Some other good stretchers include the bend, the groin stretch, the propeller, and the cobra.
Bend
Begin with your feet together and knees straight but relaxed. Bend slowly form the waist with your fingers pointing to your toes and your head bowed. When you have reached the farthest you can hold for 10 seconds. Then rise very slowly to a straight-up position. Repeat.
If the muscles along the back of your legs are very tight, do not expect to touch your toes right away. Just make sure that those leg muscles get a good stretch, and you will enjoy daily improvements.
Variation 1: Bend slowly forward and clasp your hand hands behind your legs. Pull your body down slowly by bending your elbows out.
Variation 2: Clasp your hands behind your legs even lower than in variation 1. Pull your body down slowly.
For both variations, hold for 10 seconds.
Want to learn about hatha yoga and more? Visit http://heyayoga.com/blog/index.phpto learn about yoga and hatha yoga.
February 23, 2009
Asanas To Help You Out From Your Backache
Yoga is very important in our daily life and it can create positive impact on your health. By doing some asanas would be very good for your back. As the lifestyle and the way of working has changed which causes many of these ailments. The food habits with high on fat, cholesterol and other unwanted things just add up to your ailments.
Yoga done helps in relaxing your body and creates harmony in your body. The process of yoga is the idea about well-being in this fast and overly paced life. It gives a therapeutic feeling once you are through with it. It makes you aware about your body and needs of stretching and stress free makes it very important for everyone to give it a try at least once.
Some common poses which can be tried by you to break-free from the backache. The very common and very easy asana is the Shav asana (also known as the Corpse position) this helps in relaxing your body by lying flat on your back and relieving you from all the stress and tension. You can also do the Spinal Twist which would help in easing your tension in the upper back and shoulders, the cat stretch or cobra which increases flexibility of your spine.
Some of the other poses are the Camel pose, Cow pose, Locust pose, Lotus pose, Forward Bend, Palm Tree pose and Fish pose all these poses helps in relieving the back pain you keep complaining about. Some other poses which would help you are the Headstand, inverted poses, aswini mudra, plough these all the different poses which can be done if causes of backache is by displaced organs, weak muscles, from menstruation and other problems. Other asanas are tadasana samastithi, tadasana urdhva hastasana, tadasana urdhva baddha hastasna.
Kevin Pederson, the webmaster for Yogawiz ,provides information on yoga for one and all who has any problems be it back or any other problems.
Yoga done helps in relaxing your body and creates harmony in your body. The process of yoga is the idea about well-being in this fast and overly paced life. It gives a therapeutic feeling once you are through with it. It makes you aware about your body and needs of stretching and stress free makes it very important for everyone to give it a try at least once.
Some common poses which can be tried by you to break-free from the backache. The very common and very easy asana is the Shav asana (also known as the Corpse position) this helps in relaxing your body by lying flat on your back and relieving you from all the stress and tension. You can also do the Spinal Twist which would help in easing your tension in the upper back and shoulders, the cat stretch or cobra which increases flexibility of your spine.
Some of the other poses are the Camel pose, Cow pose, Locust pose, Lotus pose, Forward Bend, Palm Tree pose and Fish pose all these poses helps in relieving the back pain you keep complaining about. Some other poses which would help you are the Headstand, inverted poses, aswini mudra, plough these all the different poses which can be done if causes of backache is by displaced organs, weak muscles, from menstruation and other problems. Other asanas are tadasana samastithi, tadasana urdhva hastasana, tadasana urdhva baddha hastasna.
Kevin Pederson, the webmaster for Yogawiz ,provides information on yoga for one and all who has any problems be it back or any other problems.
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