Approaching Baddha Padmasana

Approaching Baddha Padmasana

Baddha(adj.) = Bound
Padma (n.) = Lotus
Asana (n.) = Posture

Baddha Padmasana is one of those Asanas that work on the shoulders,chest, back, stomach, genitals, arms, figures, legs, knees. Now, for a beginner this Asana is tough. The puzzles to solve here is how to get those arms sneak around the back and catch hold of the big toes?

I heard such solutions as "your arms/legs are proportionally longer than those of mine". Not quite sir, it's a three piece puzzle.

i) Straighten the back - this is the last piece actually
ii) Increase the reach of your arms - by exercising your back muscles and the ball and socket of your shoulders
iii) Learn to do a tight Padmasana - by moving the foot touch your waist region

In here we are dealing with the second problem.

 

See? Hold the fingers of your right hand by your left hand and continuously exert a pulling pressure on it. Count twenty breaths. Release your arms lock. Now do the same stuff changing your arms - exert a pulling pressure on the fingers of left hand by your right.

 

Ardha Halasana

Ardha Halasana

Ardha (n.) = Half
Hala (n.) = Plough
Asana (n.) = Posture

Balarama brother of Krishna in Mahabharata (Devaki and Vasudeva's son but who was born in Rohini's womb by somethe miraculous method which sounds like embryo transplantation procedure of today's medical science) was called Haladhara - who holds or carries a plough. Balarama's weapon was a plough.

 

I talked about this simple, yet so beneficial Asana for treating back pain last year. I practiced this Asana and got wonderful results. Of course, if you have acute back pain, so much so that lifting legs like this is painful. In which case desist doing this Asana. I went through this acute pain too :). With time, and as a result of doing other back pain Asanas as pain is reduced, you can start doing this one.

Kanochee Muktahasta Seershasana

Kanochee Muktahasta Seershasana

Kanochee (n.) = Elbow
Seersha (n.) = Head, crown, pinnacle
Asana (.) = Posture

This is the fourth variation of Muktahasta Seershasana of which I spoke sometime Ago. Here, the balance is on the elbows.

 

I find this Asana quite tough. Balancing on the elbows!!! I would be considering myself successful if I were able to balance on the elbow points, with no part of the forearm supporting me.

Bharadwajasana

Bharadwajasana

Alternate spelling: Bharadvajasana

This Asana has been named after Sage Bharadwaja

Who was sage Bharadwaja?
Sage Bharadwaja belongs to the Brahmin clan which was known for its physical activities and practice of the martial arts. He was the father of sage Dronacharya, the teacher of the Pandavas and Kauravas in Mahabharata.

The birth of Drona is quite interesting which has been recounted in the Mahabharata quite elaborately. Since in this case Drona was not born out of a woman, but a clay pot.

Sage Bharadwaja's other son was sage Garga - who was also a vedic scholar as his father. Garga was also a renowned astrologer who gave Krishna his name.

 

I found this Asana very useful in progressing to Ardha-Matsyedrasana

Breathing: Breath in when twisting the torso to the back. I am still, as usual, still to go a long way grappling this Asana. The twist here should be even more pronounced.