Simhasana

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Simhasana (Sanskrit: सिंहासन; IAST: Siṁhāsana) or Lion Pose^[1] is an asana in hatha yoga and modern yoga as exercise.

Etymology and origins

The name comes from the Sanskrit words simha (सिंह), meaning "lion", and āsana (आसन), meaning "posture" or "seat".^[2] The pose has also been named Narasimhasana, as in the 19th century Joga Pradipika,^[3] from Sanskrit नरसिंह Narasimha, a lion-man avatar of the god Vishnu.^[4] The posture is described in the tenth century Vimānārcanākalpa.^[5]

Description

The practitioner kneels with the buttocks on the inner arches of the feet, stretches the arms forwards with the hands outspread just off the ground, and makes a facial expression with the mouth open wide and the tongue out to resemble a lion. The yoga guru B. K. S. Iyengar notes that this is the traditional pose; he calls it Simhasana I.^[6]

Variations

Iyengar's Simhasana II begins from lotus position (Padmasana). The practitioner then stands on the knees and moves the body forwards until the front of the body faces the floor and the shoulders are directly above the hands, the arms straight. The facial expression is the same as before.^[6]

Yoga Journal has described a variant "Lion Pose" with the legs as in Muktasana with the facial and hand positions as in Simhasana, suggesting it as a suitable seat for pranayama.^[7]

References

^ "Yoga Journal - Lion Pose". Retrieved 2011-07-03.
^ Sinha, S. C. (1996). Dictionary of Philosophy. Anmol Publications. p. 18. ISBN 978-81-7041-293-9.
^ Bühnemann, Gudrun (2018). 84 Asanas in Yoga. D.K.Printworld. p. 59 (plate 68).
^ Williams, George M. (2008). Handbook of Hindu Mythology. Oxford University Press. p. 223. ISBN 978-0-19-533261-2.
^ Mallinson, James; Singleton, Mark (2017). Roots of Yoga. Penguin Books. pp. 100–101. ISBN 978-0-241-25304-5. OCLC 928480104.
^ ^a ^b Iyengar, B. K. S. (1991) [1966]. Light on Yoga. Thorsons. pp. 135–138. ISBN 978-0-00-714516-4.
^ YJ Authors (28 August 2007). "Lion Pose". Yoga Journal. Retrieved 27 August 2021.

External links

[1] "Yoga Journal - Lion Pose". Retrieved 2011-07-03.

[Sinha1996-2] Sinha, S. C. (1996). Dictionary of Philosophy. Anmol Publications. p. 18. ISBN 978-81-7041-293-9.

[3] Bühnemann, Gudrun (2018). 84 Asanas in Yoga. D.K.Printworld. p. 59 (plate 68).

[Williams2008p223-4] Williams, George M. (2008). Handbook of Hindu Mythology. Oxford University Press. p. 223. ISBN 978-0-19-533261-2.

[5] Mallinson, James; Singleton, Mark (2017). Roots of Yoga. Penguin Books. pp. 100–101. ISBN 978-0-241-25304-5. OCLC 928480104.

[Iyengar_1991-6] Iyengar, B. K. S. (1991) [1966]. Light on Yoga. Thorsons. pp. 135–138. ISBN 978-0-00-714516-4.

[7] YJ Authors (28 August 2007). "Lion Pose". Yoga Journal. Retrieved 27 August 2021.

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v t e Hatha yoga
Subtle body	Three bodies Five sheaths Chakra Nadi Sushumna Prana
Texts (Asanas)	Ancient meditation seats Darshana Upanishad, Pātañjalayogaśāstravivaraṇa, Goraksha Sataka Gomukhasana Muktasana Padmasana Siddhasana Simhasana Sopasrayasana Sukhasana Svastikasana Virasana Ancient non-meditation Ahirbudhnya Saṃhitā, Pātañjalayogaśāstravivaraṇa Dandasana Kurmasana c. 7th C. Ahirbudhnya Samhita Kukkutasana c. 10th C. Vimanarcanakalpa Mayurasana c. 11th C. Amritasiddhi, Hemachandra's Yogashastra Muktasana Shirshasana 12th C. Amaraugha 13th C. Dattatreya Yoga Shastra, Goraksha Shataka, Vasishtha Samhita, Vivekamārtaṇḍa Viparita Karani 14th C. Khecarīvidyā, Shiva Samhita, Sharngadhara-paddhati, Yogabīja, Yogatārāvalī Gorakshasana Paschimottanasana 15th C. Hatha Yoga Pradipika Baddha Konasana Dhanurasana Matsyendrasana Utkatasana 17th C. Gheranda Samhita, Hatha Ratnavali, Yogacintamani, Bahr al-Hayāt Bakasana Bhujangasana Kakasana Kraunchasana Makarasana Mandukasana Matsyasana Vajrasana Vrikshasana 18th C. Hathabhyasa-paddhati, Joga Pradipika Adho Mukha Vrikshasana 19th C. Sritattvanidhi Akarna Dhanurasana Bhairavasana Durvasasana Garudasana Halasana Navasana Pashasana Setu Bandha Sarvangasana Tittibhasana Urdhva Dhanurasana Late 1905 Yogasopana Purvacatuska 1943 Hatha Yoga: The Report of A Personal Experience
Mudras	Mahamudra Maha Bandha Jalandhara Bandha Mula Bandha Uddiyana Bandha Viparita Karani Khechari mudra Vajroli mudra
Shatkarmas	Dhauti Basti Kapalabhati Nauli Neti Trataka
Pranayama	Anuloma Bhastrika Bhramari Kumbhaka Ujjayi
Related	Modern yoga Nath Roots of Yoga Yoga Yoga as exercise Yoga using props Category:Medieval Hatha Yoga asanas