Cobra (Bhujangasana) |
Whether it is due to the stressful situations at work or at home and children coping up with school home work and extra curricular activities, I have come across so many people from children to seniors who have so much accumulated stress and tension. They feel physically fatigued and have no energy. They constantly seek doctor’s help and get medication to calm them down. It is also true that they don’t find full relief, as many times medications tend to suppress the pain.
Good news is that practicing the Cobra Pose early in the morning or anytime during the day instantly relieves from the above symptoms. This pose can be practiced by all age groups.
Note: Of course this pose cannot be practiced at work, unless you have privacy in the office. Good news is that you can do an alternate yoga pose at work called “Raised Arm Pose”. Stand straight with your feet a few inches apart. Breathing in, raise your arms above your head, and looking up bend backwards. Stay in this posture as long as you are comfortable and then breathe naturally. Breathe out as you lower you arms. Repeat 2-3 times.
You may move your palms forward to be comfortable in the stretch. This is an easy position for the beginners to attempt.
You may move your palms little closer to your body for an advanced stretch.
Apart from relieving physical tension, COBRA POSE releases the vital energy from the base of the spine. Relieves back pain by gently stretching the vertebrae from the base of the spine to the neck. Strengthens arms, neck, shoulders, chest, abdominal muscles, and hips. It aids in relieving carpool tunnel syndrome by exercising the forearms, wrist joints, palms and fingers. This pose also helps in stimulating the thyroid glands. Encourages the deep respiration, which in turn strengthens the lungs and heart. Provides massaging action for the kidneys, thereby helping to prevent and reduce kidney stones.
Now as you are familiar and have practiced the Bowing Pose, Cat Stretch and Cobra. I recommend that you practice this short routine by combining the three poses, to further strengthen and relax your body in the sequence it is written, Cat Stretch, Cobra and then the Bowing Pose. It is up to you to stay in each posture for 1-2 minutes or for as long as you wish to relax, without straining your body.
Vasanthi Bhat’s book “The Power Of Conscious Breathing in Hatha Yoga” is especially helpful for people who can find information on the Cobra Pose. In addition this book has may other poses that are highly beneficial to all other stressful symptoms.