Pascimatana asana

Description

Pascimatana asana: Asana

Asana Type:

Pramana

Śāstra Pramāṇa - शास्त्र प्रमाण

Tri-shikhi-brahmanopanishad 51

"जानूपरि ललाटं तु पश्चिमं ताणमुच्यते । येन केन प्रकारेण सुखं धार्यं च जायते ॥ ५१ ॥ "

"jānūpari lalāṭaṃ tu paścimaṃ tāṇamucyate | yena kena prakāreṇa sukhaṃ dhāryaṃ ca jāyate ॥ 51 ॥ "

Translation

Stretching the leg on the ground, touching the big toes with the fore-arms and placing the face on the knees, is said to be the Pascimatana posture.

Hatharatnavali 3.66-67

Instruction

1. Sit with the legs extended 2. Fold forward from the hips 3. Catch hold of the big toes 4. Bring the forehead to the knees

Benefits

Stimulates gastric fire, reduces the belly, causes prana to flow through central channel, susumna. Tones up nerves supplying the pelvic organs. Brings good health. Improves the flexibility of of the hips, buttocks, hamstring, calves and back. Stretches the back side of the body from head to ankles. Contracts the muscles on the front of body. Engages the abdominals and thorax (neck to diaphragm) Improves respiration. Improves secretion of abdominal glands. Improves blood circulation in the back and tones spinal nerves. Activates Kundalini Shakti. Increases digestive fire. Reduces visceral fat. Purifies the nadis. Removes abdominal disorders like enlargement of the spleen, digestion issues, constipation, colitis and contributes to the feeling of well-being. Causes the current of prana to pass through the susumna (posterior path), increases gastric fire, reduces belly and offers good health to a person.