Yoga Sep 2020 LP

Yoga Sep 2020 LP

Raise your hood this monsoon
Kamala Venkat recommends the Cobra Pose to boost your immunity against diseases this rainy season 

The monsoon not only brings refreshing showers but also various diseases like dysentery, asthma, arthritis, and nasal and skin allergies. Immunity plays a key role in fending off such diseases. Practising Bhujangasana daily helps in increasing immunity.

Bhujangasana is a back-bending yoga pose, which is also a part of the traditional Surya Namaskar sequence. Visually, it reflects the posture of a cobra that has its hood raised, and hence it is also known as the ‘Cobra Pose.’

Start your practice by warming up which consist of a gentle rotation of the neck, arms, wrists, hips, and ankles. Walk around briskly, and stretch and mobilise your muscles. This will prepare your body and keep you safe from injuries. Before you attempt any back-bending postures, ensure that your body is sufficiently warmed up.

COBRA POSE
Step-by-step instructions

• Lie down flat on the floor on your stomach. Stretch your legs back with your toes pointing out. Spread your palms on the floor under your shoulders and bring the elbows close to the sides of your body.

• As you inhale, press your palms into the floor and begin to straighten the arms to lift the chest off the floor. Lift only till your navel; let your pelvis maintain a connection with the floor. Gently squeeze and firm your buttocks even as you keep pushing your navel centre downwards.

• Be strong with your shoulder blades as you engage them to open up your chest forward. Make sure that you are distributing the backbend evenly throughout the entire spine.

• Hold the pose for anywhere from 15 to 30 seconds, breathing easily. Return to the floor with an exhalation.

Bhujangasana is very useful to keep your back healthy. Practise this asana individually or through the Surya Namaskar sequence to make your spinal region strong and very agile. This posture can tone your body and spinal nerves. It improves your digestion, liver, and kidney functions as well.