How to practise it
■ Sit on a mat with legs stretched out, thighs, knees, ankles and feet together.
■ Let you back and neck be erect. Rest on your buttock bones.
■ Bend your left knee and lean forward. Now, bend your torso and bring your left hand under your left thigh and simultaneously extend your right hand backwards. Bring your hands together and interlock the fingers.
■ Lift your torso up. Now slowly lift and extend your left knee perpendicular to the left thigh still interlocking fingers.
■ Keep your eyes relaxed and fix your eyes on the toes of your left leg.
■ Ensure the right leg is straight and is fixed to the ground with the toes pointing upwards.
■ Remain in the same pose for 30 - 40 seconds.
■ Now, come back to the normal position (shake legs and hands to relax your muscles)
■ Repeat the exercise on the opposite side. This will complete one cycle.
■ Redo the cycle three to four times.
Benefits
■ This pose strengthens back and neck muscles. It also stretches the inner groins and helps in mobilisation of hamstrings. Your shoulders will also get strengthened.
■ Eka Pada Sirsasana massages the internal abdominal organs and activates the digestion process and cleanses the organs. It improves core strength. It strengthens thighs and tones the calf muscles and promotes mobility of ankle and knee joints. It is a good way to remove toxins from your body. It develops the nervous control throughout body and mind. If you wish that your hip ligaments were more flexible, you must practice this pose. This posture also boosts the flow of energy across the body.
Caution- It has to be performed under a Master’s guidance. Practitioners with shoulder injury and tight hips must proceed very gently.
— Grand Master Akshar
Akshar Power Yoga
Academy, #4004,
100 Feet Road Indiranagar
m akshar@aksharyoga.com