The Lion Pose
Yoga Teacher Training 200 hour course makes you practice Simhasana or the Lion Pose. The name is coined of two words ‘Simha’ meaning lion and asana, the pose. The name Simhasana for its resemblance to squatting lion in the final pose. People of all age group can perform Simhasana, this is easy to do as well. This is an excellent asana for alleviating diseases of the throat, nose, eyes and mouth.
How to do Simhasana?
1. Sit in Vajrasana and then move your knees apart so as to make a right angle between them.
2. Tuck your palms under your thighs – left palm in left thigh and right palm in right thigh - palms facing downwards .
3. You may also keep the palms on the knees; they should be stretched and spread wide apart.
4. Slightly bend forward resting the weight of your body on the arms.
5. Tilt your head backwards keeping the eyes wide open.
6. Open your mouth, draw the tongue forward and downwards as much as you can.
7. With your eyes still wide open, gaze at the space between the eyebrows. Alternatively, you can gaze at the tip of the nose. Gazing at the space between the eyebrows is called Bhrumadhya Drishti and gazing at the tip of the nose is called Nasikagra Drishti.
8. Take normal deep breaths and make ‘ahh...’ sound while exhaling. This sound should intimate the breathing of a lion with tongue outside. If you like, you can roar like a lion. Make sure that your muscles in the back, abdomen and chest are relaxed in the final position. You can remain in this position as long as you are comfortable.
9. After exhaling out completely place the tongue inside and shut the lips close.
10. Then breathe again from nose.
11. This completes one cycle.
12. Hold the simha-asana for thirty to sixty seconds and repeat three to five times.
Benefits of Simhasana (The Lion Pose)
1. Simhasana relieves tension in the chest and the facial muscles. Steady breathing in this position helps the chest and the abdomen.
2. People who practice Simhasana have experienced it to remove bad breath. People with defects of throat, nose, mouth and ears are suggested to practice this asana.
3. Regular practice of Simhasana with the ‘ahh...’ sound in exhalation works as vocal therapy developing beautiful sonorous voice.
4Voice related problems also get healed.
5. Simhasana also helps people with problem of stuttering.
6. Hatha Yoga Pradeepika states that Simhasana aids in performing the three bandhas or locks namely, Moola bandha, Uddiyana banda and Jalandara bandha. Gheranda Samhita describes Simhasana as the destroyer of all diseases.