Konasana - Angle Pose

"Kona" is the Sanskrit word for 'angle'. This pose serves as a warm up pose for more complicated angle poses like Baddha Konasana, Upavistha Konasana etc.

Sequence:

1. Stand erect with your hands on both sides. The palms should be touching the thighs.
2. Gradually separate your legs until they are about two to three feet apart.
3. Raise both your hands till shoulder level.
4. Stretch them out and align them parallel to your shoulder.
5. Inhale and bend to your right side sliding the right hand down the right thigh and raising the left hand straight up.
6. Try to stretch the right hand more and touch the right ankle with your fingers.
7. Keep the left hand straight without bending the elbow.
8. Bring down the left hand and place it on your waist.
9. Hold this posture for a few seconds.
10. Exhaling return to the standing position with your hands stretched out parallel.
11. Do not move you feet.
12. Repeat the same steps on the other side, alternating the hands.

Caution:

• Do not jump to create distance between your legs.
• Never overstretch yourself while trying to reach the ankles.
• Patients of spondylitis and hypertension should not practice this posture.

 

Benefits:

• This pose is helpful in relieving back pain.
• Flexibility of the spine increases.

 

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Supta Baddha Konasana - Reclining Bound Angle Pose

In Sanskrit, "Supta" connotes to 'reclining', "baddha" means 'locked' and "Kona" refers to 'angle'. In this posture, the practitioner leans back, hence the name.

Sequence:

1. Sit down on the floor and come into Baddha Konasana posture.
2. Exhale and taking the support of your hands lean back.
3. Rest your elbows and forearms on the ground and continue leaning backwards until the entire back is on the floor.
4. Stay in this position for about 5 minutes. Beginners can start with 1 minute.
5. Come out of the pose by first bringing both the thighs together and then rolling over to your side.

Note: Beginners can use bolsters or folded blankets to support the thighs and back.

Caution:

• Avoid this pose if you have a knee, hip or shoulder injury.

 

Benefits:

• Digestive system starts functioning better.
• This yoga pose can help women with menstrual disorders and PMS.
• The pose can relieve stress.
• Supta Baddha Konasana can help overcome depression.
• Pregnant women can benefit from this pose.
• Thighs can get leaner as a result of stretching.

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Baddha Konasana - Bound Angle Pose

The word "Baddha" means 'locked' and "Kona" means 'angle'. In this posture the body is locked in a typical angle.

Sequence:

1. Sit in Bhadrasana.
2. Relax your whole body.
3. Clasp the fore part of both your feet with your hands.
4. Sit erect and look in front.
5. Gradually bend forward and place the elbows on your thighs, pressing them gently.
6. Take a deep breath and then exhale slowly. While exhaling pull in your abdomen and keep bending your trunk forward. The bending of trunk should be smooth without any jerks.
7. Gently place your forehead on the ground in front of your feet.
8. Slide the elbows below the shin and place them on the ground too. Your forearms should also be on the ground.
9. Remain seated while you are assuming the final posture.
10. The two elbows should be in a straight line.
11. Remain still in the final position for 5 seconds. You should hold this position as long as you can hold your breath.
12. Inhale slowly and as you inhale release your feet, straighten your arms and stretch out your legs.
13. Raise your head and trunk together and return to the starting position.
14. Sit erect and relax to resume normal breathing.
15. Repeat the pose. As Baddha Konasana is a very strenuous pose, you must not do more than two rounds of this pose.

Benefits:

• Badhha Konasana helps get rid of thigh flab.
• It also increases flexibility of hips and the spine.
• The abdomen and pelvic area get toned.
• Baddha Konasana can be practiced to relieve back ache and pain of hip-joints.

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Upavistha Konasana - Wide-angled Seated Pose

"Upavishtha" means 'seated' and "kona" means 'angle' in Sanskrit. This is a warm-up pose for most seated poses.

Sequence:

1. Sit down on the floor.
2. Assume Dandasana.
3. Lean back taking the support of your hands.
4. Widen the gap of your legs gradually until they are 90 degrees apart.
5. Taking the support of your hand, slide your posterior forward.
6. Open up your leg a bit more.
7. Press your thighs and knees on the ground. The legs must be straight with the toes pointing upwards.
8. Bend forward and touch the ground with your palms down. As you exhale keep sliding your hands forward as much as possible.
9. Once you reach your maximum limit, hold the pose for about a minute.

Note: Beginners can bend their knees slightly, in order to move the hands forward.

Caution:

• Do not practice this pose if you have any knee injury.

Benefits:

• The spinal column is stretched and toned.
• The hamstrings and calves become stronger.
• The abdominal organs are stimulated.
• Upavistha Konasana can help you relax your mind by serving as a de-stressor.

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