Asan Pranayam Mudra Bandh

SR No.: 009366
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Satyanand Saraswati Swami
Publisher: Yoga Publication Trust
Publication Year: 2002
Total Pages: 560
Language: Hindi
Classification: Book_Devnagari
File Size: 5 MB

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Follow with the left leg which presses the descending colon directly.
Stage 2: Remain in the base position.
Bend both knees and bring the thighs to the chest. Interlock the fingers and clasp the hands on the shin bones just below the knees.
Inhale deeply.
Holding the breath, raise the head and shoulders and try to place the nose in the space between the two knees. Hold the breath in the raised position for a few seconds, counting mentally.
Slowly lower the head, shoulders and legs while breathing out.
Practise this 3 times.
Awareness: On the breath, mental counting in the final position, pressure on the abdomen and the movement. Contra-indications: Not to be performed by persons suffering from high blood pressure or serious back conditions, such as sciatica and slipped disc.
Benefits: Supta pawanmuktasana strengthens the lower back muscles and loosens the spinal vertebrae. It massages the abdomen and the digestive organs and is, therefore, very effective in removing wind and constipation. By massaging the pelvic muscles and reproductive organs, it is also useful in the treatment of impotence, sterility and menstrual problems.
Variation: Repeat the practice as described in stages 1 and 2 but change the breathing pattern slightly. Instead of inhaling before raising the body, exhale deeply and hold the breath out in the final position for a few seconds, counting mentally.
Lower the head, shoulders and leg(s) while breathing in. Practise 3 rounds for both stages 1 and 2.
Benefits: This variation gives basically the same benefits as the main pose but has a more profound influence on the spine and pelvic region.
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