Yoga asanas are one of the best ways to keep your body and mind working at its optimum level. And, therefore today we will talk about Ardha Matsyendrasana Benefits and Steps.
Ardha Matsyendrasana is also known as the “half spinal twist“, this asana is great to increase the flexibility of both body and mind to enhance the health of the person and to also help in controlling excessive weight.
Ardha Matsyendrasana is named after Sage Matsyendranath who was a Hatha Yoga proponent and his favourite meditation asana was a full spinal twist and this full spinal twist is difficult to practise by everyone and therefore it was simplified which we know as Ardha Matsyendrasana.
Ardha Matsyendrasana Benefits
– Ardha Matsyendrasana helps to strengthen abdomen, chest, spine, arms and hips.
– Ardha Matsyendrasana helps to increase the flexibility of the spine which further help to relieve stiffness between the vertebrae and prevent back pain.
– Ardha Matsyendrasana is helpful to increase the oxygen supply to the lungs.
– Ardha Matsyendrasana helps to increase the digestive secretions by opening the chest.
– Ardha Matsyendrasana Benefits for the people who are facing a mild slip disc problem.
– Ardha Matsyendrasana is helpful to prevent menstrual disorders and urinary tract related problems.
It is advisable to always consult your doctor and an expert yoga instructor before you practise any yoga asana especial in case you any physical injury or disease.
Follow These Ardha Matsyendrasana Steps
- First of all, sit on a yoga mat and stretch your legs to prep for this yoga asana. Then bend your left leg and then place on the outside of your right knee on the ground.
- When you do this you will find you left knee close to your right armpit.
- Try to maintain your right heel near o your left buttocks.
- While practising your posture and your right heel should be resting on the ground.
- After this, try to hold the big toe of your left foot by using your right hand over to your left leg.
- In case you are not able to grab your toe you can also hold your ankle. Make sure that your heel is on the ground while you are raising your toes.
- Keep your spine erect and twist your trunk as much as you can. Also, you need to turn your neck to look on the side of your left shoulder.
- Then keep your left hand on your waist in an encircle position and palm should be outwards.
- You can maintain this asana for at least 2 minutes in starting and then you can slowly with practice maintain this asana for more time.
To practice Ardha Matsyendrasana Steps correctly focus on the following points:
– Try to keep your spine erect, do not bend your back or drop your shoulder while practising Ardha Matsyendrasana.
– Try to make sure that both your buttocks are firmly on the ground.
– In case you need to support you can place your hand on the ground.
– You can twist you back and neck as much as you can just make sure that they are straight.
– Do not try to lift the left sole or your buttocks off the ground.
– Do not try to bend your neck backwards or forwards.
– Do not overstrain your knees and hips.
Try to avoid these things like:
– If you are pregnant do not practise “Ardha Matsyendrasana” because this asana includes the twisting of the abdomen which is not good in this condition.
– If you are on your periods then do not perform Ardha Matsyendrasana, the same thing goes for this, twisting of the abdominal muscles.
– People who are suffering from hernia, peptic, ulcer and severe spinal problem should not practise Ardha Matsyendrasana.
– People who went for abdominal, heart or brain surgery should not practise Ardha Matsyendrasana.
We hope that you find this information useful and keep the above-mentioned points in your mind before you start practising “Ardha Matsyendrasana“.