Vakrasana

Other Names

Twisting Posture, Twist Pose, Vakra Asana, Vakr Asan

Description

In this asana, the upper part of the body is completely turned and twisted. The spine, the muscles of the hands, the legs and the back are stretched.

How to reach the stretch

• Sit erect, stretching your legs in front together. Hands by the side, palm resting on the ground, fingers together pointing forward.
• Slowly fold your one leg (i.e. left) at the knee and place the sole on the ground near the knee of the right leg. The knee of the left leg should make 90° angle straight towards sky.
• Taking the left hand towards back, place the palm on the ground at the distance of 9" straight from spine. Fingers together pointing backward. Then place the right hand towards the other side of the left knee. If legs are stretched towards east then fingers of the hand will point towards north.
• Now twist your head and back towards backside and try to look at the backside.
• While returning to the original position, first bring your head to the original position.
• Now take the right hand to its original position and then bring the left hand from the back and place it by the side of the body.
• Now slowly stretch out your folded leg and sit erect as in the first position.
• In the same way practice it from the other leg. This makes one round of Vakrasana.

How to release the stretch

• To release the posture, slowly stretch out your folded leg and sit erect as in the first position.
• In the same way practice it from the other leg. This makes one round of Vakrasana.

Benefits

• This asana strengthens the spine and activates nerves.
• The mouth of the Subhuman opens and Kundalini Shakti is sublimated.
• This asana invigorates the muscles of the loins.
• Purna Vakrasana bestows all the benefits gained by performing Ardha Vakrasana.

Caution

Those who are having a big belly may feel it difficult to place the hand to the other side of the knee, they suggested to place the hand on the knee or keep it wherever it is, if it is not possible to place it on the ground.

Next: Virasana-1