Anjaneyasana - Low lunge Pose - Let your inner child shine
Anjaneyasana is in honor of Anjani the cloud woman, mother of Lord Hanuman.
The pose resembles a young, divine child (Anjaneya), reaching towards the sky and warmth of the Sun.
In this pose, let your inner child shine as you find the balance between grasping for something and raising your hands in wonder. Enjoy the feeling of being deeply grounded even as you rise.
Indications:
- Start in Downward Facing Dog. On an exhale, step the right foot between the hands.
- Lower your left knee and top of the foot on the mat. Slide your left knee back as far as feels comfortable.
- On the inhale slowly rise your hands overhead with the palms facing one another and gaze up in between the hands.
- As you exhale, draw your tailbone down as you lift the rib cage away from the hips.
- Hold this pose for up to 5 breaths. Use your inhales to lengthen the spine and exhales to deepen the stretch.
- Release the hands to the floor, step back to Downward-Facing Dog and repeat on the opposite side.
Variations:
A chest-opening variation is to interlace the fingers behind you stretching the shoulders back.
Benefits:
- Strengthens the back, legs and shoulders.
- Stretches the hips, thighs and feet.
- Improves balance and focus.
- Strengthens the quadriceps and gluteus muscles.
- Relieves sciatica pain.
- Expands your chest, lungs and shoulders.
- Develops stamina and endurance in your thighs.
- Improves your balance, concentration and core awareness.
- Calms the mind.
Contraindications:
- High blood pressure.
- Knee injuries.
- Those with shoulder problems should not raise the arms above the head, instead placing the hands on the front thigh.
- Those with neck or spinal injuries should keep the gaze forward or downward.