The phrase “Paschimottanasana” consists of three Sanskrit phrases – Paschima refers back to the west, however on this context to the again of the physique, Uttana means stretching, and asana is the place.
Paschimottanasana is an intense ahead bend asana for newcomers that stretches your complete again whereas bending from the waist. It releases the higher physique from stress, pressure and pressure and calms the thoughts.
This pose can also be talked about in Hatha Yoga Pradipika in Chapter 1 Verse 30:
prasārya pādau bhuvi daṇḍa-rūpau, dorbhyāṃ padāghra-dvitayaṃ ghṝhītvā|
jānūparinyasta-lalāṭa-deśo, vasedidaṃ paśchimatānamāhuḥ ||
which implies, “When one has the ft stretched out on the ground like a stick and grasps the toes of each ft with each fingers, when one rests the brow on the thighs, that is known as Paśchima Tâna (Paschimottasana).”
This verse introduces us to the pose and likewise describes the way in which to carry out it.
It may possibly assist in higher digestion and stimulates the uterus, ovaries, kidneys, liver, and kidneys. When included right into a yoga routine for athletes, the seated ahead bend pose can assist in easing pressure within the muscle tissue.
Day by day psychological calming workout routines, akin to Paschimottanasana, can relieve delicate despair and stress, in addition to anxiousness and exhaustion. They will additionally promote wholesome sleep and cut back anxiousness.
Follow Information for Seated Ahead Bend
Preparatory Poses
Head to Knee Pose (Janu Sirasana)
Certain Angle Pose (Baddha Konasana)
Steps to Carry out Seated Ahead Bend Pose
- Undertake an upright posture in Dandasana whereas flexing your toes in your route.
- Increase and lengthen your arms upward as you inhale, focusing in your fingers and crown of your head.
- As you exhale, bend ahead, pivoting on the hips. As an alternative of descending down the knees, preserve the backbone straight and focus on shifting ahead towards the toes.
- Bend ahead untill your stomach touches your thighs.
- The hand place for this pose has been categorized into three classes – Paschimottanasana A, Paschimottanasana B, and Paschimottanasana C.
- Paschimottanasana A – You maintain your huge toes of the left and proper foot with the primary two fingers of your respective fingers. You’ll bend your elbows and relaxation them on the ground whereas touching your brow to the knees.
- Paschimottanasana B – You seize the soles of the ft from the perimeters and place your brow in your knees.
- Paschimottanasana C – Your fingers wrap across the whole ft and you’ll seize the correct hand’s wrist or palm with the left hand (or vice-versa) and place your brow in your knees or shins.
- These three classes are in growing order of issue. First, carry out Paschimottanasana A. After a rise in hip flexibility and vary of movement, go for Paschimottanasana B. Lastly try and go for Paschimottanasana C.
- Keep away from pulling your neck up or completely letting it go; as a substitute, keep the backbone’s pure extension.
- Maintain this place for 3-5 breaths.
- Launch your ft and rise. Draw your tailbone into your pelvis as you inhale to boost your torso.
Newbie’s Ideas
- Don’t drive your physique to stretch past its capability. Go solely so far as your flexibility permits.
- In case you are performing this pose for the primary time, don’t try to the touch your toes. It’s also possible to preserve your fingers on or above your ankles or wherever on the shins.
- It’s also possible to take the assistance of your accomplice or teacher to push your again to extend your stretch.
- Place a folded blanket underneath your hips to extend consolation.
- Utilizing a yoga strap is very beneficial for newcomers or folks with stiffness within the hip, again, or shoulder muscle tissue. Bend your knees and loop the strap on the balls of the ft. Maintain each ends together with your fingers and begin straightening your legs. As you straighten your legs, bend your higher physique so far as you possibly can go.
- If in case you have tight hamstrings, you possibly can bend your knee to convey them close to your chest as a substitute of you folding ahead. You’ll be able to preserve a bolster or rolled blanket underneath the knees to maintain them bent comfortably.
- Retaining a bolster lengthwise in your legs will assist your higher physique and reduce any discomfort.
- As this pose places strain in your stomach, carry out this pose 3-4 hours after a meal.
Precautions and Contraindications
- In case you are affected by a slipped disc, spondylitis or hernia, hypertension, or any cardiovascular illnesses you shouldn’t carry out this pose.
- Pregnant girls shouldn’t carry out this asana as this asana places strain on the stomach half and pelvis. It’s dangerous to the well being of the fetus.
- If in case you have a latest damage or have had surgical procedure on any a part of your legs, again, pelvis, and arms don’t carry out this asana.
Modifications
Seated ahead Bend with one leg folded – This variation is kind of the identical because the Head to Knee Pose nonetheless, the location of the leg, which isn’t outstretched, is barely totally different. Whereas one leg is prolonged to the entrance, the opposite leg is bent and positioned beside the buttocks. Doing this not solely opens your hips and groin muscle tissue but additionally stretches your quads and the IT (Iliotibial) band (connective tissue from the pelvis to the shins).
Observe-up Poses
Extensive-Angle Seated Ahead Bend (Upavistha Konasana)
Bridge Pose (Setu Bandha Sarvangasana)
Aspect Bow Pose (Parsva Dhanurasana)
Advantages of Seated Foreward Bend Pose
A seated ahead bend works towards lengthening the backbone and eradicating stiffness from the again muscle tissue. This asana stretches your entire physique and will increase its flexibility. It offers a good condition and posture to the physique.
The advantage of Paschimottanasana has been clearly described in Chapter 1 Verse 31 of Hatha Yoga Pradipika :
iti paśchimatānamāsanāghryaṃ, pavanaṃ paśchima-vāhinaṃ karoti |
udayaṃ jaṭharānalasya kuryād, udare kārśyamaroghatāṃ cha puṃsām ||
It means, “this Paśchima Tâna carries the air from the entrance to the again a part of the physique. It kindles gastric fireplace, reduces weight problems, and cures all ailments of males”.
Allow us to see some advantages of this pose:
- Stretches and tones leg muscle tissue, particularly hamstrings and calves, offering a wonderful form to the leg.
- Will increase flexibility, mobility, and vary of movement of the shoulders.
- Will increase blood circulation within the spinal columns and aids in spinal decompression.
- Removes stiffness from the again muscle tissue and will increase their mobility.
- Massages the stomach organs such because the pancreas, intestines, liver, kidneys, endocrine glands, and so forth. and improves their perform.
- Promotes a greater digestive system and improved metabolism.
- Can take away pointless fats and assist in weight reduction by massaging the stomach muscle tissue.
- Helps girls in menopause and regulates menstruation cycles via the provision of oxygenated blood to the reproductive organs.
- Counters the results of a hunch again and corrects the posture.
- Aids in assuaging or stopping diabetes, hypertension, menstrual issues, IBD (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), urinary management issues, infertility, or impotence.
- Can improve focus, reminiscence energy, focus, and consciousness.
- Alleviates stress, despair, anxiousness, anger, and different adverse feelings by encouraging blood circulation in direction of the mind.
- Calms the thoughts and removes restlessness.
Conclusion
The seated ahead bend is an especially helpful counter pose to backbends. It is usually a restorative and rehabilitative pose for people who’ve stiff neck, shoulder, and again muscle tissue. You must embody this pose in your routine, ideally in direction of the tip of the yoga session, to present your backbone an excellent stretch.
Incessantly Requested Questions
What Muscular tissues Does Seated Ahead Bend stretch?
Seated ahead bend principally targets the higher physique areas akin to your backbone, again muscle tissue, neck, shoulders, and chest. And since you might be folding out of your hips, your hamstrings, buttocks, and knees additionally get stretched. Your core and stomach muscle tissue additionally get an excellent therapeutic massage and exercise as participating the need assist your preserve your backbone prolonged.
Why is Seated Ahead Bend so Onerous?
Performing a seated ahead doesn’t imply that it’s important to squish your torso to your thighs as quickly as doable. You might be working towards it to elongate your backbone. In case you are unable to bend ahead, with out rounding your backbone, chances are high you have got a stiff decrease again and hamstrings.
You must first follow poses that cut back stiffness in these areas. Moreover, utilizing a yoga block underneath your buttocks and barely bending and softening your knees to place much less strain in your thighs are some choices to make the pose straightforward.
Is Ahead Fold Good for Again Ache?
So long as we regulate the pelvis and backbone connection, the ahead fold aids in releasing stiffness and tightness within the shoulders whereas decreasing strain from the again. Reduction from decrease again and neck pressure can alleviate ache or forestall the onset of a pressure. The stretching of the again
