Bhujangasana (Cobra Page)

Bhujanga means a Cobra in Sanskrit. When this pose is exhibited, the raised head and trunk resemble the raised hood of a cobra. Hence this is called Bhujangasana.

TECHNIQUE

Spread a blanket on the ground. Lie flat downwards keeping the back above. Relax all the muscles. Be at ease. Place the palms on the ground just below the shoulders and elbows. Let the body from the navel downwards to the toes touch the ground. Raise the head and upper portion of the body slowly just as the cobra raises its hood. Bend the spine backwards. Now the muscles of the back and lumbar regions are well stretched. The intra-abdominal pressure is also increased. Then slowly bring down the head to its original position. When you lie down at first with the face downwards on the ground, the chin is pressed against the chest. The chin-lock is formed. Repeat the process of raising the head and bringing it down half a dozen times, steadily. Breathe slowly through the nose. Retain the breath till you raise the head and bend the spine properly. Then you can slowly exhale. Then retain the breath while bringing the head down. As soon as the head touches the ground, breathe again slowly.

BENEFITS

Bhujangasana bends the spine backwards (posterior curvature) while Sarvangasana and Halasana bend it forwards (anterior curvature). This relieves hunchback, back pain, lumbago, myalgia of the back. It increases the intra-abdominal pressure and brings down the loaded faecal matter from the transverse colon to rectum. Hence it relieves constipation. It increases bodily heat and destroys a host of ailments. It awakens the Kundalini that is sleeping dormant in the Muladhara Chakra. It gives good appetite.

Bhujangasana is particularly useful for ladies in toning their ovaries and uterus. It is a powerful tonic. It will relieve amenorrhoea (absence of menstruation,) dysmenorrhoea (painful or difficult menstruation), leucorrhoea (whites), and various other utero-ovarine diseases. It keeps up efficient blood-circulation in those parts and is more powerful than Aleteris Cordial. Deliveries will be normal and easy.