How to practise
■ Stand with feet.. shoulder-distance apart
■ Slowly squat with full feet down (support with folded mat or towel, if heels are not touching the mat)
■ Spread your thighs so that knees are wider than torso
■ Keep your spine lifted from your tailbone
■ Join your palms together
■ Fill yourself with gratitude and draw the energy inwards, breathe rhythmically
■ Hold the position for 30 seconds
■ Gently straighten your knees and come into padahastasana
Benefits
■ This posture boosts the flow of energy across the body
■ Stretches the ankles, groins, sacrum and lower back
■ Massages the internal abdominal organs through contraction of upper body
■ Directs flow of energy towards Manipura chakra
■ Stimulates metabolism and digestive organs
Caution: Yogis with knee injuries, lower back pain and tighter hips should be cautious while performing this asana.
Akshar Power Yoga Academy, #4004, 100 Feet Road Indiranagar
m akshar@aksharyoga.com