Hatha Yoga
EKA PADA SIRSASANA – One Foot to Head Pose – An Advanced Posture
One Foot to Head Pose is an advanced pose, providing a full stretch for both the lumbar and thoracic regions. Be sure to warm the body up properly before attempting this posture, being careful never to force or strain in any position.
1 – From Sukhasana, lift right leg and place the right foot into the left elbow crease. Bring the right arm around outside the right leg and clasp the hands into the Rocking Baby Pose. Rock side to side for a few minutes to help massage the hip socket.
2 – Release the right leg. Take ahold of the right foot with both hands and gently try to bring the sole of the foot flat against the breast bone. Slowly slide the foot towards the chin, then nose, then the forehead.
3 – Release and hold onto the foot with both hands. Drop the right shoulder enough to slide it under the right knee, resting the knee and upper right calf on the shoulder. Try to sit as tall as possible to avoid compressing the back and chest.
4 – Slowly straighten the right knee, bringing the foot behind the head with the left hand. When steady, bring the hands into Namaste. Hold for several breaths then try the other side.
Benefits:
- Deep opening of the hip socket and adductor leg lines
- Increased flexion and rotation of the hip joints
This yoga asana is an edited contribution for the Sivananda Gurugram partly sourced and edited from the Sivananda Publication : “Yoga: Your Home Practice Companion” – Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre – 2010.
Sit and meditate. Watch the mind. If the mind wanders, think that you are the witness. – Sri Swami Sivananda
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| JULY 2016
01 Ekadasi AUGUST 2016 02 New Moon |
Glossary
KRISHNA JAYANTI / KRISHNA JANMASHTAMI – (see Calendar)
This is the birthday of Lord Krishna, the Eighth Divine Incarnation.
It falls on the 8th day of the dark half of the month of Bhadrapada (August-September). This is one of the greatest of all Hindu festivals. Lord Krishna was born at midnight. A twenty-four hour fast is observed on this day, which is broken at midnight.
The Lord appeared when the moon entered the house of Vrishabha at the constellation of the star Rohini, on Wednesday, the 8th day of the second fortnight of the month of Sravana, which corresponds to the month of Bhadrapada Krishnapaksha, according to the Barhaspatyamana, in the year of Visvavasu, 5,172 years ago (from 1945), which means 3227 B.C.
According to traditional sources, the Janmashtami is observed on the day when the ashtami tithi occurs at midnight. If the ashtami tithi AND the Rohini nakshatra occur on the same day, then the observance is considered to be doubly sacred; otherwise the observance is held on the day on which the ashtami prevails at midnight. The vrata mainly consists of fasting, spending the whole night in the worship of Krishna, reciting hymns of praise and Krishna’s pastimes, reciting prayers from the Bhagavata, offering arghya to Krishna, and the parana or the ceremonial breaking of the fast. The next day is celebrated as Krishna Jayanti.
Though everything happens according to the Supreme Will, the Karma of the individual determines the form or shape of the experience that is to be had. – Sri Swami Sivananda