http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/941Sanskrit name:
Virabhadrasana III
Virabhadra is believed to be the name of a strong warrior that was an incarnation of Shiva, a major Hindu deity. This warrior was believed to have a thousand heads, eyes, and feet, and to be adorned in tigers skin.
Asana= body movement associated with yoga
Meaning: the third pose of the strong warrior
English name:
Warrior Pose III
How to perform this Asana:
Stand in Tadasana, exhale and fold foward to Uttanasana. From Uttanasana, exhale and step your left foot back into a high lunge position with arms extended above your head, or Warrior 1. Your right knee should be more or less at a right angle. From the lunge position, stretch your arms forward, parallel to the floor. Exhale and straighten your right leg while simultaneously lifting your left leg off the floor. Your lifted leg should be parallel to the floor, as should your upper body and arms. Make sure your pelvis is parallel as well, push down your left hip so that it is level. After holding in this positions to come down place you left leg down behind you and bend your right leg returning to the lunge then step your left foot next to your right foot and stand in tadasana.
Muscles and actions involved:
When holding the position you must spread your toes of your standing leg and press all four corners into the floor for it is the only part of your body connected to the Earth. Keep your standing leg strong and straight to hold the balance. Pull up and engage your quadricep muscle to maintain stability. Pull your shoulders in and down into your back and keep your heart's center open. Also keep your spine in a straight line by not dropping you head or lifting it too high. Contract your bundas, specifically your core for that will help you the most to hold this asana.
Physical and therapeutic benefits:
Virabhadrasana III requires you to use your balance and stability by using muscles that in turn strengthen the ankles, legs, and core. So form this asana you gain control over your balance and stronger ankles, legs, and core. Your mind also has a better sense of focus because this asana requires much focus to maintain it.
Awareness:
When in Virabhadrasana III I feel that my muscles are really pulling and tightening together in the effort to keep me on balance but they don’t feel tense or cramped up, just as if they are building strength. I also feel slightly unstable but that feeling gets less and less intense the more I practice it. Mentally, when I do this asana I feel my mind is very focused on only the task at hand.
Sources:
BY EVANDEVENTER 9:30 BDF
No comments:
Post a Comment