Summer 2008 > Health >
Please note: It is recommended, for your safety, that you receive guidance from an experienced instructor before entering yoga poses.
Upavishta Konasana (Seated Wide Angle Pose)
Forward Bends can be extremely grounding. The third eye greets the earth creating a wonderful balance for the energy centers commonly known as charkas. Connecting your intuition to the strength and stability of the earth can be very calming to the mind. Rejuvenation is brought to the hamstrings as they are stretched open, vitality to the spine, hips and legs as circulation is increased, especially to the pelvic region. This Asana is great for women as it regulates the menstrual flow and also stimulates the ovaries. The second chakra, the human talent of creativity, is stimulated.
Ayurveda Tip: Ayurveda means ?the science of life? and is an ancient system that offers sophisticated lifestyle practices. There is an interconnection with the entire universe and Ayurveda influences your awareness with your true self. Through Yoga (and many other modalities) one can encourage the flow of prana to specific regions of the body to balance out disharmony. Vayu is a Sanskrit word for wind. They are the subtle energies that flow through the body moving in 5 different directions, up, down, out, in, center, or Udana, Apana, Vyana, Prana and Samana. These currents control everything in our body system. They are known as ?the gatekeepers to the celestial world?. Upavishta Konasa is best for a Vata person as it energizes mainly the Prana and Samana Vayu, and also a bit of Vyana and Apana.
Joint Action: mild spinal flexion, sacrum nutation, major hip abduction, external rotation and flexion, knee extension and ankle dorsi flexion.
Muscles Strengthened / Working: Legs: gemelli, obturator internus, and in small amounts the piriformis and gluteus maximus which are hip extensors, adductors, posterior fibers of the gluteus medius and minimus
Spine: extensors
Muscles Lengthened: Legs: Piriformis, gluteus maximus (hip extensors), adductors, especially the gracillis, the pectineus is not affected, the hamstrings (semitendinosus and semimembranosus) and gastronomies.
Spine: extensors are lengthened and are also active, as one enters the pose to a deeper level, the spine moves toward more axial extension.
Be cautious with the knees as not to overextend them, be sure to anchor yourself through the sitting bones and press the back of the legs down.
References:
Thai Yoga Therapy by Kam Thye Chow and Emily Moody
Light on Yoga by B.K.S. Iyengar
Thai Yoga Massage by Kam Thye Chow
Yoga Anatomy by Leslie Kaminoff
The 8 Human Talants by Gurmukh
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