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Health Benefits Of Standing Forward Bend

HEALTH BENEFITS OF UTTANASANA (STANDING FORWARD BEND)

There are moments of stress in your lives when you just want to switch off from the world for a while and rejuvenate yourself and start anew. Yoga is one such outlet where you can achieve the same. A plethora of postures with innumerable advantages exist in Yoga for everyone. In this article we discuss about a simple yet effective asana which comes with a set of benefits and reviving properties – Uttanasana.

The name Uttanasana (Uth-thA-nA-suh-nuh), known as the Standing Forward bend Pose, is derived from the Sanskrit words Ut (meaning intense), Tan (meaning stretch), and Asana (meaning posture). The end pose leaves in such a position that your head is in a lower stratum than your heart. This enables a gush of blood to the head, revamping the blood cells, leaving you with a sense of novelty. This pose is also highly recommended for people who are fighting asthma or mild depression.

Steps to perform Uttanasana – Standing Forward Bend :

  • Begin with Tadasana, the upright pose. Stand straight with your arms actively resting on the sides of your thighs.
  • Keeping your breathing in check, without bending your knees, bend forward using your hip joints and not your waist.
  • If you are unable to touch the ground with your hands, cross your forearms and hold your elbows until you attain flexibility.
  • If you are moderately flexible, try to grip the back of your ankles and bring your head to touch your knees.
  • If your flexibility is above average, you may rest your palms on the mat and try to reach your head below the knee.
  • Beginners may hold the position for about 10 seconds. Intermediate and advanced practitioners may stay for 30 seconds to 1 minute in Uttanasana.
  • Breathe only through the nostrils, gently and normally, throughout the pose.
  • Inhale while coming back up to the starting position and exhale to relax.

Benefits of Uttanasana – Standing Forward Bend

  • It rejuvenates your mind and relaxes the nerves
  • It actively stretches your hips, hamstrings, and calves
  • It provides strength to your thighs and knees
  • Regular practice relieves stiffness of your spine, neck, and back
  • By allowing direct blood flow into the head, it creates a fresh influx of blood cells and rejuvenates the mind
  • It activates your abdominal muscles
  • It results in an elongated, flexible, and sturdy spine
  • It improves posture and improves bodily balance and co-ordination
  • It stimulates the kidneys, liver, and spleen, thus giving you a sense of physical relief
  • It is known to enable improved digestion
  • It has the qualities to reduce high blood pressure
  • It can play a major role in treating symptoms of several ailments including menopause, asthma, headaches, and insomnia
  • It alleviates symptoms of stress, anxiety, mild depression, and fatigue of the body and mind
  • It is widely considered therapeutic for infertility, osteoporosis, and sinusitis

Contraindications

You need to refrain from practicing this pose if you face chronic problems or have a history of any injury in your knee joints, ankle joints, or back.

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Yoga Teacher Training in Rishikesh India

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