PARSVOTTON ASANA OR PYRAMID POSE

The Parsvotton Asana is a standing posture of Yoga and is moderately difficult pose to perform for the beginners. This so named because the body takes shape of a Pyramid Pose.

TECHNIQUE

Parsvotton, Asana

Stand on the floor with legs separated and distance between them twice the length of shoulders.

Point your right foot outwards, almost at a right angle to the torso. At the same time, point your left foot towards your right leg.

Twist body in the right direction, that is, in the direction in which right foot is pointing.

In this way, right leg would come in front and left leg would be at the back.

Take arms behind back, positioning them parallel to the floor.

Hold both hands together.

Now shift torso forward and start bending forward at hips. Bend till hips are parallel to the floor.

Hold this position for a while.

In the next stage of this Asana further shift the body weight on your leg and bring your face as close as possible to your leg.

Hold this position for a while, breathing slowly and deeply.

For coming out of this Asana kick your feet up. Kicking will allow your back to gain requisite momentum to lift the torso as well as your head from the bend.

This Asana should not be performed in case of neck or lower back injuries

Beginners would not be able to fully stretch their back and touch the ground as stiffness in the lower back muscles will hamper forward bend.

In order to overcome this disability they may modify this pose slightly. Instead of holding arms at the back they may make them a part of torso, taking them forward into the bend.

They may also make use of a wooden block as a prop. It can be placed on the floor, just beneath the point where the hands are supposed to touch the ground.

BENEFITS

This Asana helps you to stretch and elongate your spine.

This Asana helps stretch and strengthen your hamstrings and legs.

This Asana also helps in exercising back and chest muscles.

Finally this Asana helps improve your sense of balance.