Hip opening Yoga pose- Garudasana

All the yoga poses are mend with some benefits in it. Yoga and Pranayama are the things which we inherited from our ancestors and Indian sages. Sages of that time were no more than the God. They had the vast range of knowledge which made them so wise and full of wisdom that they used to enlighten everybody. Here, our concerned topic is on a Yogasana; Hip opening Yoga pose- Garudasana.

As discussed on our title topic; Garudasana is mostly meant as a Hip opener pose. It has also many benefits which we will be talking below.

What is Garudasana?

Garudasana is also called Eagle pose. In this very pose your body looks like a standing eagle. The name has been made from the two Hindi words; Garuda which means ‘eagle or vulture’ and Asana which means ‘pose or posture’. Garuda = the mythic “king of the birds,” the vehicle of Vishnu. The word is usually rendered into English as “eagle,” though according to one dictionary the name literally means “devourer,” because Garuda was originally identified with the “all-consuming fire of the sun’s rays.”

Steps for Garudasana:-

Well, this asana is not so tough but should be performed under a Yoga instructor to avoid injuries. Following are the steps of Eagle pose-

1. Stand straight on both feet. Raise the right leg and wrap it around the left leg.
2. The right thigh will be over the left thigh and the right feet will touch the calf muscles from behind.
3. Similarly, wrap the right hand around the left hand.
4. Place the palms together to resemble the beak of an eagle.
5. Try to maintain the balance and slowly bend the left leg and lower the body until the right toes touch the ground.
6. This is the final pose. Try to remain in this pose for as long as you can maintain the balance.
7. For beginners, 15 – 30 seconds in sufficient.
8. Repeat the same process with the left leg wrapped around the right leg and the left hand twisted around the right hand.
9. Keep the upper body straight. Gaze at a fixed point in front to keep balance.

Variation for Garudasana:-

Here’s a challenging variation of Garudasana. From the pose as described above, exhale and lean your torso into a forward bend, pressing the forearms against the top-leg thigh. Hold for a few breaths, then come up with an inhalation. Repeat on the second side.

Benefits of Garudasana:-

• Garudasana is primarily practised to enhance the sense of balance of the body.
• It alleviates sciatica and rheumatism in the leg joints.
• It strengthens the leg muscles. Increases the blood supply to and loosens the joints in the legs and arms.
• It is a good hip opener and must be performed regularly.
• It focuses on your entire spines and correct any of the deformity in it.
• It is a good cure for Hydrocele.
• It stretches the thighs, hips, shoulders, and upper back

Precautions and Conrtradictions for Garudasana:-

• People suffering from arthritis should only perform this asana under expert guidance.
• Students with knee injuries should avoid this pose.

The name has been derived from the Mythical bird ‘Garuda’ which is also called ‘King of Birds’. It is the ride of Lord Vishnu. All the Yogasanas are meant for some benefits in it. Take care and live well!