Yoga Pose:
Koundinyasana
Important Note
Take special precautions while doing any asana. If you are learning yoga, then take the advice of a knowledgeable person. Do not put any kind of force in the event of pain or unable to do so. Keep in mind that you will be able to succeed only with constant practice.
Brief Introduction Of The Koundinyasana
- Koundinyasana is the pose of the ancient Sage Koundinya. It involves balancing the body weight upon the arm, which challenges the body and mind of practitioners at each second.
- Dedicated to the sage Koundinya, who developed and attained mastery on it, this pose is often referred to as the “flying splits”.
How To Do The Koundinyasana?
Koundinyasana has 2 variations. The Eka Pada Koundinyasana involves using one leg while Dvi Pada Koundinyasana involves the use of both legs. According to tradition, one can enter this pose from the tripod headstand. But it can also be entered from the Parsva Bakasana pose. In modern yoga, this yoga posture basically involves balancing the body on the hands.
How to Do Eka Pada Koundinyasana?
- Form the Downward Facing Dog pose. This will be the first step.
- Bend the elbows, and lower the upper part of your body. Bring it near the floor.
- Now shift the weight of your body on the upper arms. Elevate both legs into the air.
- Lower then shoulders to the elbow height.
- Gradually split your legs. Take the left thigh to the left side and put it over the left triceps of your left arm. Due to this reason, “Split Legged Pose” is another name given to “Eka Pada Koundinyasana”.
- Breathe in a normal way.
- You may also try twisting the hips to be able to make your left leg reach the triceps of the right arm.
- Extend the leg as straight as possible. Never exert more force than is needed or uncomfortable for your body.
- Stay for around half to one minute in this posture.
- Use the left triceps to repeat all the above steps.
How to Do Dwi Pada Kouninyasana?
- Enter the Downward Facing Dog pose. It will be the first step.
- With your hands on the surface of the floor, bend the elbows. This will get your upper body lowered and move it nearer to the floor.
- Move the weight of your body to the upper arms. Elevate both legs up into the air straight.
- Now lower the shoulders to your elbow height.
- Bend the knees gradually, to put them on the left triceps.
- Respire in a normal way.
- Stretch the legs as straight and as much as possible comfortably.
- Avoid exerting additional force.
- Stay in this pose for around half to one minute.
- Use the right triceps now, to repeat all the above steps.
Benefits Of The Koundinyasana
- Koundinyasana has immense benefits for the health of its practitioners.
- When you practice this asana regularly, it can aid in stretching the muscles of your legs. Thus, you can feel freer and no suffer from limited mobility with legs. It can also help cure old pain and aches in the legs by stretching the muscles, tissues and ligaments.
- It is also able to reduce fat from the body, particularly from the abdominal area. You can get rid of excess weight, and have a trimmer and more toned physical appearance.
- The regular practice of this Yoga pose is able to improve focus, and can let you concentrate much better on whatever you do. It can be very useful for students or people who have a hard time concentrating on studies, work etc. Studying or working for longer hours can be easier with this pose.
- As your body weight has to the supported for sometime entirely on the upper arms, shoulders and wrists, with regular practice of this Yoga asana you can find these areas getting stronger and stronger.
- You can also get more control on your body, as well as an improved sense of awareness, as you practice it. For people who find it difficult to maintain balance, this can be a great pose which can help correct that problem.
- With regular practice of this asana, you can have strong core muscles and shoulders. It can be easier for you to lift or carry heavy stuffs for a longer period. You will be amazed at the improved strength in a few months. As a matter of fact, Kaundinyasana can help improve the overall strength of the body.
- Other than improving the balance and strength of your body, it can also be effective in making you more flexible. There will be fewer instances of suffering from locked joints, muscle catch etc when you perform this pose.
- It can make the spinal column much stronger, and help rejuvenate it. After sitting for the entire day at the office, performing this pose back at home in the evening can freshen you up and help alleviate the stiffness and pain in your back area.
- As you perform this asana, over a period of just a few weeks, you can have your abdominal organs stimulated. It can be very effective in improving your digestive powers. If you have been suffering from poor digestion and reduced appetite for some time now, you can say goodbye to those problems with only a few weeks of practicing this Yoga pose.
Precautions To Be Taken While Doing The Koundinyasana
There are some precautions that you need to take as you practice Koundinyasana.
- Avoid the practice of this yoga asana if you happen to be pregnant. Or you may get the advice of your physician or practice it under the supervision of an expert.
- You are always advised to practice this pose on an empty stomach. It can be more advantageous for you to perform this specific pose right in the morning hours.
- It is recommended that you avoid performing this pose in case you suffer from wrist problems.
- If you suffer from Carpel Tunnel syndrome, it is recommended that you avoid the practice of Kaundinyasana.
- It is also better to avoid its practice if you suffer from injuries in the lower back region.
Conclusion
Koundinyasana might look like a tough pose to perform, and it actually is so, but can offer immense benefits for the mind and body of practitioners upon regular practice over a long period. It is important that you avoid wrong practice of this pose, or it can result in wrist injury and other problems.
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