Yoga Pose:
Samakonasana
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 Samakonasana
- The Samakonasana is often commonly used in modern exercise and was in practice with hatha yoga too. It belongs to the advanced level of yoga asanas and can be difficult to practice for a beginner without proper preparation.
- This yoga asana is commonly referred to as the centre split pose or the straight angle pose. It is also called as the straight angle pose or the full sideways split pose by people. There are both physical health and mental health benefits for people practicing this asana.
- Using a yoga mat might be optional but would provide the much-needed friction while practicing this. This is especially the case when you are trying to do this on a surface that is flat and a little slippery. We look at the simple steps you can use to practice Samakonasana.
How To Do The Samakonasana?
- With regular practice you would be able to master the Samakonasana in a few days. This is if you practice it regularly and keep pushing yourself that little extra bit each day until your position is perfect with this asana.
- Patience is said to be the key factor when it comes to people wanting to perfect the Samakonasana for the benefits it has. To avoid disappointment, you should not have high standards of perfecting this asana within a few times of practice.
- Ensure that you select a hard surface that is flat to practice the Samakonasana. The surface should ideally be good enough to support your body weight and be rid of moving parts.
- You can begin this asana by sitting in a normal pose with your back being completely as straight as possible. Now, you can proceed to open your legs up and point it forward in a straight line while you breathe in and out slowly and consistently.
- Separate your legs slowly and steadily without straining yourself too much when you begin this asana. It is imperative that you do not stretch your legs beyond what you are comfortable with.
- You can proceed to split your legs and position it in a way that you are comfortable. It is possible for you to reach the straight pose only with adequate practice over a period of time.
- Breathe in and out slowly while you hold this position without moving your legs and while the knees are not bent. You can hold this position for up to 30 seconds as a beginner. However, as time goes by you would be able to hold on to the final pose for up to 5 minutes.
- You can retract and relax before repeating this pose for a few times to add flexibility and control.
You should remember that there are no shortcuts to attaining perfection with the Samakonasana rather than regular practice. So, it is imperative that you take it slowly and on a consistent basis before you attain perfection with this pose.
Benefits Of The Samakonasana
It is common that most people surprise themselves with the benefits that come along with practicing the Samakonasana on a regular basis. Although there are many benefits that come with this asana, we look at the most important and noticeable ones below.
- Your body gets rejuvenated and revitalized when you practice the Samakonasana on a regular basis.
- The general psychological health improves apart from providing you with greater overall flexibility and stability.
- It allows you to stretch your muscles in your legs, hamstrings, calves, and other parts of the body.
- The lower abdomen is also benefitted by improvement in blood circulation when you practice this asana.
- Reproductive organs in the body are also benefitted with improved blood circulation.
- The hip and groin muscles are also stretched which enables them to open up considerably.
- You would be able to experience better self-control and have confidence in your body.
- Calmness and the ability to be patient would also be a trait you would be able to increase with the practice of Samakonasana.
- Women can be helped with this asana especially when they have problems relating to PMS. However, you should not practice this asana during your menstrual cycle.
Remember, these benefits would be attained over a period of time practicing this asana on a regular basis. One should not be disappointed when starting the Samakonasana as it is a slow process before you reach perfection with the same.
Precautions To Be Taken While Doing The Samakonasana
There are a set of precautions that come along with practicing this asana for both beginners and intermediate practitioners. You would have to be aware of it before you attain full confidence in this pose with regular practice.
- The Samakonasana is one of the asanas that is ideally practiced in the morning with an empty stomach. If you are practicing this asana in the evenings you should ensure that you do it after 5 – 6 hours since the last meal you had.
- If you are a person who is faced with problems with the leg due to injury or surgery you should take professional guidance with the practicing of this asana.
- You may want to avoid this asana completely if you have back problems, pain, and a slipped disc.
- Women who are pregnant and suffer from irregular periods or menstrual problems may be better off if they avoid this pose completely.
- People who had suffered an injury to any of their internal organs or had a surgery pertaining to an internal organ might want to avoid this asana to ensure that you do not complicate or aggravate them further.
Conclusion
- Practicing the Samakonasana may be something that you would ideally like to start after consulting with your general physician or experienced yoga instructors. Practicing preparatory poses and follow-up poses would make this asana easier and effective.
- You can do this asana from the comfort of your home and on a flat surface. You would also end up being in a better mental space once you master the Samakonasana and practice it on a regular basis.
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