Meaning: Lion Pose 

General Benefits:

Facial, eye and tongue muscles are stretched, refreshing the blood supply to these muscles, improving their efficiency. The folded legs redirect the flow of prana from the lower chakras to the higher chakras.

Benefits for Women:

Menstrual disorders

Therapeutic Applications:

Reproductive problems, Weak digestion.

Taking the Position:

In sitting position, bend the right leg and place the foot under the left buttock. Bend the left leg and cross the left ankle over the right ankle, placing the left foot under the right buttock. If you are more comfortable with the left ankle under the right ankle then your can practice that way. Rest the hands on the knees with the fingers spread out. Lean the body forward slightly, shifting the body weight onto the hands. The arms should be kept straight. Tilt the head slightly downwards, open the mouth and stick the tongue out, pointing the tip of the tongue down. Widen the eyes and tense all facial muscles. The gaze should either be at the nose tip or eyebrow center. Breathe normally.

Releasing the Positions:

To release the asana, relax the facial muscles and straighten the neck. Straighten the body and place the hands on the ground, by the hips. Come on your toes, straighten the left leg and then the right leg returning to sitting position.

Anatomical Focus:

Chest, throat, eyes, forehead.

Anatomical Awareness:

Focus on throat and eyebrow center.

Do's:

Keep the back straight. Keep the chest open. You may shift the position of the legs slightly to make sure that you are firmly seated and in balance.

Don'ts:

Bend the arms.

Precautions & Contraindications:

For those with weak knee or ankle joints, this asana should be practiced with caution. The asana should not be practiced for more than 3 minutes as it is neither beneficial nor advisable.

Variations & Tips:

If it is difficult to sit in the position described above, you can simply sit in Vajrasana with the knees wide apart, and leaning your body weight onto the hands placed on the ground in front of you.

Preparatory Poses:

Vajrasana

Follow-up Poses:

Position:

Sitting.