Simhasana

Simhasana (Sanskrit: सिंहासन; IAST: Siṁhāsana) or Lion Pose^[1] is an asana.

Etymology

The name comes from the Sanskrit words simha (सिंहा) meaning "lion", and asana (आसन, āsana) meaning "posture" or "seat".^[2]

Description

The asana resembles^[3] a seated lion, hence the name Simha (lion in Sanskrit) asana. The practitioner's facial expressions are modified to resemble a lion.

The Lion Face Gesture (Simha Mudra) is performed with other sitting asanas such as Padmāsana (Lotus Pose), or standing with the palms on the waist and the feet 6-12 inches apart.

Benefits

The stretching of the tongue in the asana has been claimed^{[by whom?]} to help with voice-related difficulties (e.g., stammering) and throat-related problems (e.g., hoarseness and tonsillitis). The asana has been claimed^{[by whom?]} to aid better functioning of the carotid sinus, the sinus nerves, the larynx, and the thyroid and parathyroid glands. The carotid bodies assist in maintaining normal blood pressure and heartbeats. The breathing exercise is claimed to help the chest and abdomen.

References

^ "Yoga Journal - Lion Pose". Retrieved 2011-07-03.
^ Sinha, S.C. (1 June 1996). Dictionary of Philosophy. Anmol Publications PVT. LTD. p. 18. ISBN 978-81-7041-293-9. Retrieved 9 April 2011.
^ Picture of the pose

External links

This Hinduism-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

This Yoga-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

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

[Sinha1996-2] Sinha, S.C. (1 June 1996). Dictionary of Philosophy. Anmol Publications PVT. LTD. p. 18. ISBN 978-81-7041-293-9. Retrieved 9 April 2011.

[3] Picture of the pose

[1]

[2]

[3]