Gomukhasana,
or Cow Face Pose, is one of the best and most popular seated postures listed in
Hatha Yoga. Gomukha is translated into ‘Cow Face’, which means that the
practitioner’s face resembles to that of Cow when he/she does this pose.
Procedure for Gomukhasana (Cow Face Pose):
- Begin
the pose Push your knees together ahead of your body and place the right knee
over your left one.
- When
you find the right alignment, sit between your two feet. Make sure that they
are equidistant from your buttocks. Ensure that the body weight is evenly
shared on your sitting bones.
- Raise
your left arm towards the ceiling.
- Pull
the left hand towards the mid-region of your spine. Extend your right arm
towards the same side.
- Rotate
your arm inwards so that your thumb would be facing the floor first while your
palm faces the sky.
- Inhale
and while exhaling, bring back your right arm behind your lower back.
- Keep
your body straight and hook (interlace) your fingers tightly behind your back.
If you find it difficult to do that, use a strap or belt.
- Raise
your left elbow and gently pull the other one to the floor.
- Raising
your chest, tighten your shoulders blades and thrust them against your lower
back.
- Breathe
in and out steadily/deeply 4-5 times as you hold the pose.
- Now
release both your arms and uncross your feet. Repeat the steps while keeping
your left knee on top. Note that whichever leg would be placed on top,
that side arm would always point to the ground.
Advantages
of Gomukhasana (Cow Face Pose):
- Gomukhasana is a great pose for relaxing and
removing stress/tension/depression.
- The posture has also been known to be beneficial for
kidney patients.
-
Gomukhasana is also therapeutic in hypertension, diabetes, and sexual problems.
-
Gomukhasana is also useful in treating sciatica, backache and rheumatism
because it stretches your back properly
- The pose,
when done regularly, also massages and stimulates your reproductive organs
- Stretches
the back of your arms, your rotator cuff, and your upper back and chest muscles
- Stretches
your gluteus, tensor fascia late, piriformis and other hip rotator muscles
- Opens
your chest and thoracic spine
- The yoga
posture aids in treating digestive disorders
Therapeutics: