Simhasana(lion pose)

BNYS Study materials

1. SIMHASANA(Lion Pose) The Name-The pose is called so the student imitates the lion with his jaws thrown wide apart and his tongue fully stretched out

2. Sitting sthithi position Bend the Right leg at right knee and right foot is inserted below the left buttock For this purpose, the sole of the right foot is turned upward with the hands and with the left knee raised the right foot is placed under left buttock When the right foot is satisfactorily arranged below the left buttock the student lifts up the right buttock from the ground and put his whole

3. Weight upon the right heel When the student feels secure on his right heel, and antiriorly crossing the right leg from below Sets the foot under the right buttock . So as to enable him to sit on the left heel. The left toes spread out beyond the right thigh N ow student sitting on both the heels

4. For Comfort and ease student puts whole weight on thighs and especially on knees which are made to rest on the Ground This gives little forward inclination to the Whole trunk, the buttocks being lifted up from behind The muscles of arms and forearms are stiffned , the elbow joints are fully extended and palms are made to cover their corresponding knee. The fingers being spread out to imitate the broad paws of the lion

5. The trunk along with the spine held errect , the chest is thrown out and braced up shoulders are made to exert a gentle pressure on the knees through upper extremities Then begins execution of important part of simhasana The jaws are thrown wide open and tongue is stretched out to its utmost limit.The eyes are fixed in between eyebrows

6. Breathing- oral Normal breathing Release in reversal order Repeat on the other side Duration-1 to 3 min Benefits- this Asana is very valuable exercise to preparation of three Bandhas T he widely throwing open of the jaws and the drawing out of tongue make the muscles more elastic.Thus facilitate for forming Jalandhara Bandha

7. The attempt of forming Jalandhara Bandha the pressure on the knees exerted through the hands. The bracing up of the spine and throwing out of chest, all pu together give a sort of control over the abdominal Recti Thus Preparing th student fo uddiyana bandha Lifting the buttock with view to hold the spine erect and sit lightly on heels, tend to contraction of such pelvic muscles as facilitate the practice of moola Bandha

8. Cultural advantages-Muscles of the neck are exercised and blood circulation there in is improved Pharynx and larynx are exercised It maintains the health of thyroid gland Therapeutic Advantages- Congestion in the Pharynx is removed. Good for Tonsilitis and Deafness