YOGA POSTURES: Sitting Position

Sitting Alignment in Yoga : Asana is a Sanskrit word meaning to keep our body in a particular posture. The great Yogi Patanjali had devised many asanas, the postures, which were steady and comfortable. His teaching is known as Astang Yoga, too. Most of the postures are practiced to achieve better physical and mental health, as these yoga postures have deep impact on our body, mind and soul.

Padmasana, Lotus Pose

The meaning of ‘Padma’, a Sanskrit word, is lotus. While sitting in this posture, the human body looks like a lotus. Thus it is named ‘Padma Asana’. Padmasana is basic posture for many yogic acts. If you want to do chanting for longer hours it is convenient to sit in this asana. As narrated by Patanjali, sitting in this posture makes the energy of human body takes it natural shape, helping to heal several disorders in the body. It is believed that those who practice Padmasana would get help in awaking Kundalini.

Theme: Learn Doing Yoga Excersices, How to do the different postures of Yoga, Doing Various Yoga Asanas.

Padmasana, Lotus Pose

We can see from all the paintings and idols of Buddha that this posture was his favourite. He is always depicted as sitting in Padmasana. Moreover it is most favourite posture among all of those practice yoga postures.

BENEFITS OF DOING PADMASANA.

Padmasana is basic posture for many yogic acts. If you want to do chanting for longer hours it is convenient to sit in this pose. As narrated by Patanjali, sitting in this posture makes the energy of human body taking its natural shape. It helps in healing several disorders in our body. It is believed that those who practice Padmasana would get help in awaking Kundalini.

All the yogis and their pupils prefer to be in this posture while doing the various breathing exercises.

HOW TO DO PADMASANA

· You just sit on the floor or on yoga net, spreading your legs in forward position.

· Arrange your left foot on the right thigh and the right on your left thigh.

· Keep the upper half of body straight and put left hand on left knee and right on the right knee. The palms should be facing upward.

· Then keep the tips of both the thumbs just touching your index fingers.

· Sit in this posture as long as you can. There is no harm in sitting until you feel it uncomfortable. (Image courtesy Man By Joseph RENGER (œuvre personnelle) [GFDL, CC-BY-SA-3.0 or CC-BY-SA-2.5-2.0-1.0], from Wikimedia Commons) (Image courtesy Woman By Marcocarvalho [CC-BY-3.0], from Wikimedia Commons)

Sitting Yoga Postures

VAJRA ASANA,The Thunderbolt Yoga Posture : It has been noticed that regular practice of this asana increases the secretion from the glands, which are vital for the physical and mental health of a person. Along with other benefits of doing Yogic posture, Vajrasana, the Thunderbolt Yoga Posture helps the digestion process and assists in eliminating the gastric troubles. Those who suffer from the pain in knee would be benefited by doing this posture.

Paschimottanasana :This postures is relatively an easy one. You can feel very much relaxed after doing this asana. It provides good excercise to the muscles of back, legs and the hands. It is advised for weight loss and back pain.

Ardha Matsyendrasana: This asana was devised my a Yogi whose name was Matsyendra. So the Yoga Posture is named after his name. As the Purn Matsyendra is difficult for the beginners, the Half Spinal Twist Posture is devised. It is called the Ardh Matsyendrasana.

These sitting postures help keeping our body in a particular positions for a time. Here are some of the Yoga Asanas, the postures, which can be termed as Yoga Postures in Sitting Positions. These postures would affect different systems in human body like muscular, respiratory, circulation, digestive, excretory, reproductive, endocrine, nervous system.These asanas are to be performed after keeping our body in sitting position: both legs together and stretched, toes erect, spine erect and both hands straight and palms resting on floor. By Marcocarvalho [CC-BY-3.0], from Wikimedia Commons