Simhasana
Simhasana (Sanskrit: सिंहासन; IAST: Siṁhāsana) or Lion Pose[1] is an asana.
Etymology
The name comes from the Sanskrit words simha (सिंह) meaning "lion", and asana (आसन, āsana) meaning "posture" or "seat".[2]
Description
The asana resembles[3] a seated lion, hence the name Simha (lion in Sanskrit) asana. The practitioner's facial expressions are modified to resemble a lion.
The Lion Face Gesture (Simha Mudra) is performed with other sitting asanas such as Padmāsana (Lotus Pose), or standing with the palms on the waist and the feet 6-12 inches apart.
Benefits
The stretching of the tongue in the asana has been claimed to help with voice-related difficulties (e.g., stammering) and throat-related problems (e.g., hoarseness and tonsillitis). The asana has been claimed to aid better functioning of the carotid sinus, the sinus nerves, the larynx, and the thyroid and parathyroid glands. The carotid bodies assist in maintaining normal blood pressure and heartbeats. The breathing exercise is claimed to help the chest and abdomen.
See also
References
- ↑ "Yoga Journal - Lion Pose". Retrieved 2011-07-03.
- ↑ Sinha, S.C. (1 June 1996). Dictionary of Philosophy. Anmol Publications PVT. LTD. p. 18. ISBN 978-81-7041-293-9. Retrieved 9 April 2011.
- ↑ Picture of the pose
Further reading
- Iyengar, B. K. S. (1 October 2005). Illustrated Light On Yoga. HarperCollins. ISBN 978-81-7223-606-9. Retrieved 9 April 2011.
- Saraswati, Swami Janakananda (1 February 1992). Yoga, Tantra and Meditation in Daily Life. Weiser Books. ISBN 978-0-87728-768-1. Retrieved 11 April 2011.
- Saraswati, Swami Satyananda (1 August 2003). Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha. Nesma Books India. ISBN 978-81-86336-14-4. Retrieved 9 April 2011.
- Saraswati, Swami Satyananda (January 2004). A Systematic Course in the Ancient Tantric Techniques of Yoga and Kriya. Nesma Books India. ISBN 978-81-85787-08-4. Retrieved 9 April 2011.
