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the left thigh and the left over right thigh. Then lie flat on the back. Hold the head by the two elbows.
This is one variety.
Stretch the head back, so that the top of your head rests on the ground firmly on one side and
the buttocks only on the other, thus making a bridge or an arch of the trunk. Place the hands on the
thighs or catch the toes with the hands. You will have to give a good twisting to the back. This
variety is more efficacious than the former one. The benefits that you derive from this variety are a
hundred times more than what you get in the previous variety.
Those fatty persons with thick calves, who find it difficult to have Padmasana (foot-lock),
may simply sit in the ordinary way and then practise this Asana. Practise the Padmasana first. Make
it firm, easy and steady. Then take Matsyasana. Do this Asana for 10 seconds in the beginning and
increase it to 10 minutes.
When you have finished the Asana, slowly release the head with the help of hands and get
up. Then unlock the Padmasana.
You must practise this Asana soon after Sarvangasana. It will relieve stiffness of the neck
and all crampy conditions of the cervical region caused by long practice of Sarvangasana. This
gives natural massage or shampooing to the congested parts of the neck and shoulders. Further it
affords the maximum benefits of Sarvangasana. It is a complimentary Asana of Sarvangasana.
Rather it supplements Sarvangasana. As the larynx or wind-box and trachea (wind-pipe) are thrown
open widely, this Asana helps deep breathing.
Matsyasana is the destroyer of many diseases. It removes constipation. It brings down the
accumulated faecal matter to the rectum. It is useful in asthma, consumption, chronic bronchitis,
etc., on account of the deep breathing.
59
KUNDALINI YOGA
MATSYASANA
8. PASCHIMOTTANASANA
Sit on the ground and stretch the legs stiff like a stick. Catch the toes with the thumb and
index and middle fingers. While catching, you have to bend the trunk forwards. Fatty persons will
find it rather difficult to bend. Exhale. Slowly bend without jerks till your forehead touches your
knees. You can keep the face even between the knees. When you bend down, draw the belly back.
This facilitates the bending forward. Bend slowly by gradual degrees. Take your own time. There is
no hurry. When you bend down, bend the head between the hands. Retain it on a level with them.
Young persons with elastic spine can touch the knees with the forehead even in their very first
attempt. In the case of grown-up persons with rigid spinal column, it will take a fortnight or a month
for complete success in the posture. Retain the breath till you take the forehead back, to its original
position, till you sit straight again. Then breathe.
Retain the pose for 5 seconds. Then gradually increase the period to 10 minutes.
Those who find it difficult to do the full Paschimottanasana, can do half pose with one leg
and one hand and then with the other leg and hand. They will find this more easy. After some days
when the spine has become more elastic, they can have recourse to the full pose. You will have to
use common-sense while practising Yogasanas.
PASCHIMOTTANASANA
60
ASANAS
BENEFITS
This is an excellent Asana. It makes the breath flow through the Brahma Nadi and
Sushumna, and rouses the gastric fire. It reduces fat in the abdomen and makes the loins lean. This
Asana is a specific for corpulence or obesity. It brings about reduction of spleen and liver in cases of
enlargement of spleen. What Sarvangasana is for the stimulation of endocrine glands, so is
Paschimottanasana for the stimulation of abdominal viscera, such as kidneys, liver, pancreas, etc.
This Asana relieves constipation, removes sluggishness of liver, dyspepsia, belching and gastritis.
Lumbago and all sorts of myalgia of the back muscles are cured. This Asana cures piles and
diabetes also. The muscles of the abdomen, the solar plexus, the epigastric plexus, bladder prostate,
lumbar nerves, sympathetic cord are all toned up and kept in a healthy, sound condition.
9. MAYURASANA (PEACOCK POSE)
This is more difficult than Sarvangasana. This demands good physical strength.
Kneel on the ground. Sit on the toes. Raise the heels up. Join the two forearms together.
Place the palms of the two hands on the ground. The two little fingers must be in close touch. They
project towards the feet. Now you have got steady and firm forearms for supporting the whole body
in the ensuing elevation of the trunk and legs. Now bring down the abdomen slowly against the
conjoined elbows. Support your body upon your elbows that are pressed now against the navel or
umbilicus. This is the first stage. Stretch your legs and raise the feet stiff and straight on a level with
the head. This is second stage.
Neophytes (beginners) find it difficult to keep up the balance as soon as they raise the feet
from the ground. Place a cushion in front. Sometimes you will have a fall forwards and you may
hurt your nose slightly. Try to slip on the sides when you cannot keep up the balance. If you find it
difficult to stretch the two legs backwards at one stroke, slowly stretch one leg first and then the
other. If you adopt the device of leaning the body forwards and head downwards the feet will by
themselves leave the ground and you can stretch them quite easily. When the Asana is in full
manifestation the head, trunk, buttocks, thighs, legs and feet will be in one straight line and parallel
to the ground. This posture is very beautiful to look at.
Beginners can practise this Asana by holding on to a table. They will find it easy to practise
this. If you understand the technique of this Asana and if you use your common-sense you can do it
easily and can keep up the balance without much difficulty. Fatty people have frequent nasty falls,
slips and doublings and they excite much laughter amongst the onlookers. Do not bend the legs
when you stretch them.
Practise this Asana from 5 to 20 seconds. Those who have good physical strength can do it
for 2 or 3 minutes.
Retain the breath when you raise the body. It will give you immense strength. When you
finish the Asana, exhale slowly.
61
KUNDALINI YOGA
MAYURASANA
BENEFITS
This is a wonderful Asana for improving digestion. It destroys the effects of unwholesome
food, and increases the digestive power. It cures dyspepsia and diseases of the stomach like Gulma
(chronic gastritis), and reduces spleenic and liver enlargements by increasing the intra-abdominal
pressure. The whole abdominal organs are properly toned and stimulated well by the increase of
intra-abdominal pressure. Sluggishness of liver or hepatic torpidity disappears. It tones the bowels
and removes constipation (ordinary, chronic and habitual). It awakens Kundalini.
10. ARDHA MATSYENDRASANA
Paschimottanasana and Halasana bend the spine forwards. Dhanur, Bhujanga and Salabha
Asanas are counter-poses to bend the spine backwards. This is not sufficient. It must be twisted and
bent from side to side also (lateral movements). Then only perfect elasticity of the spinal column
can be ensured. The Matsyendrasana serves this purpose well in giving a lateral twist to the spinal
column.
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