|
Fish Pose
Also Known as Matsyasana
About the Fish Pose/ Matsyasana
This is a seated type of asana. It is moderately easy to perform.
Benefits of Fish Pose / Matsyasana
* The pose helps you stretch the muscles (intercostals) between the ribs and deep hip flexors (psoas).
* The pose helps you improve the strength of the muscles of the back of the neck and upper back.
* The pose stimulates and stretches the throat and the organs in the abdominal region.
* You can tone the muscles of the front of your neck and the abdominal region.
* The pose helps you in improving your posture.
The pose is also beneficial in the therapeutic treatment of the following problems:
* Anxiety
* Constipation
* Fatigue
* Menstrual pain
* Mild backache
* Respiratory ailments
How to do Fish Pose or Matsyasana?
Step 1: Prostrate yourself on the floor on your back.
Step 2: lift your chest of the floor by sliding your elbows underneath it.
Step 3: While keeping your forearms in the same place, puff up your chest and attempt to slide your body towards the back of the mat.
Step 4: Fully extend your neck muscles and allow the top of your head to drop towards the floor.
Step 5: Remain in the pose for the length of as many breaths as possible.
Step 6: In order to come out of the pose, lift your head off the floor by exerting pressure on your forearms.
More about Fish Pose or Matsyasana
Traditional Hindu texts say that the Matsyasana pose is a "destroyer of all diseases." However, a word of caution! The pose is not to be performed if you are suffering from any of the following:
* Serious lower-back or neck injury
* High or low blood pressure
* Insomnia
* Migraine
A tip for beginners
Due to lack of flexibility in their chests, it is easy for beginners to strain their neck. It can be avoided by either placing a folded blanket beneath your head or not lifting your chest fully towards the ceiling.
Use of Props
Beginners, as it has been pointed out above, would encounter some difficulty while performing this pose. The best prop that they can use in this pose is a thickly folded blanket. Roll one and place it beneath your back.
Variations in the pose
The pose is usually performed with the legs being in the position employed in Padmasana. However, this is a position which is difficulty even for experienced students. Despite that, a variation can be introduced. Yoga practitioners can improvise with their leg position. Instead of keeping them fully extended on the floor they can attempt to raise them few inches off it.
|