For those who like to practice Yoga, the word Vajrasana may not sound strange, some of them may even routinely practice it. However for common people who do not know anything about Yoga, Vajrasana word would give no idea at all. This writing would talk about Vajrasana, mainly its benefits for both physical and mental health to give you comprehensive understanding about Vajrasana whether or not you are already familiar with this word or even practice.
Therefore, this writing would be well arranged following these subtitles;
- Introduction of Vajrasana
- How, Where and When to Do Vajrasana
- Vajrasana Benefits
The arrangement is intentionally structured that way to help you reading this writing on your preferance and purpose. You could begin reading from the beginning to the end if you do not have any idea at all about Vajrasana, or you could also do scanning and skimming if you already know or even practice this type of Yoga but still willing to know much more.
Introduction of Vajrasana
When firstly hearing the word Vajrasana, you may immediately think that it is from Sanskrit or Indian language and it turns out that your assumption is totally right. This word is derived from Sanskrit by compounding two words, which are Vajra and Sana. The former means thunderbolt or diamond, while the latter means pose. When compounded, Vajrasana means the pose of thunderbolt or the pose of diamond. Up to this point, any newbie of Yoga may get more confused on how the pose of thunderbolt looks like.
Anyhow, if you are familiar or even practicing Islamic worship called prayer or salat, you could assimilate the position of Vajrasana with the sitting position by folding your legs to the back, resting on the knee while putting your palms on the thighs. As the knee is the main point, many people like to relate Vajrasana with knee even call it kneeling yoga pose.
Particularly relating to the meaning of Vajra as diamond, it is also said that this is about the character of diamon which is considered as the strongest material. Meanwhile, a naadi in the human body is called Vajra naadi relating to genital organs. Varjasana practice could strenghthen this naadi, strengthen genital organs and cure related problems.
The other source mentions that instead of diamond or thunderbolt, Vajram means the cracked wood. This accords to an analogy assimilating the cutting process of the cracked wood using weapon like axe and chisel (with purpose to make furniture) with the ‘modifying’ process of body using iron.
How, Where and When to Do Vajrasana
Most of people like to relate Vajrasana with sitting position only, although others would also like to do it while standing. For sitting position, you could follow this instruction to do Vajrasana
- Sit on the flat floor or on mattress
- Slowly fold or bend your knee (legs) backward by placing the thighs on the legs until the calves touch the thighs.
- Put two toes and knees lie down to the floor or mattress until knees and ankles support the whole body
- Keep the knees quiet close each other
- Keep the heels apart
- Put the buttocks on heels or lie between heels
- Keep your back, spine and waist neck straight
- Close your eyes
- Keep the elbow straight
- Keep breathing (inhaling and exhaling) slowly and constantly, particularly into your stomach, instead of lung
- While exhaling, imagine that any problem comes out from your nose
Meanwhile for the sleeping position, follow these step-by-steps instructions
- Place the left and then the right elbow on the floor slowly
- Bend the backside of your body and place it on the floor together with your head
- Make knee joints nearer each other
- Fold the hands and put it under the shoulder
- Make your hands keep the head position
- Inhale and exhale while imagining any difficulties you find emit from your nose
After knowing the one-by-one procedure, you could choose which one you will try it first. Certainly you could practice those both types of practice on your preference simultaneously. Other than that, there is a few more things you have to know in doing Vajrasana.
First, doing Vajrasana would be likely painful in the firt trials. Do not be panic because it is common for newbies. Simply massage the area you find it painful or apply any gel to recover the pain soon.
Second, the time duration to have this practice is about 5 minutes at minimum and 20 minutes at maximum. The averga number is 15 minutes
Third, different from other types of asana, you could do this after meal time, although it is also ok to have it before meal. The recommended schedule is twice a day
Fourth, do not do this pose if you have wound, pain, knee problem or having just have knee surgery.
Fifth, in the first trials, it is strongly recommended that you do this practice under expert guidance. Go to any yoga center few times and if you have done much training, you could do it at home.
Vajrasana Benefits
As everyone may know, Yoga benefits range from mental to physical one and it is the main reason why nowadays people like to practice this simple, and even free treatment. Herewith the list of Vajrasana benefits which is categorized into two, which are mental and physical one. Pay very much attention on the points listed because you may find the problems you are dealing with among them.
Vajrasana Mental Benefits
Mental benefits of Vajrasana is actually closely related to the pose of the treatment which enable to stretch the muscle and relieve any stress found in joints as well as breathing slowly. When the body feel relaxed and all organs inside begin to return into the good condition, mood state would automatically get better as well. For more detail information, here are mental benefits of Vajrasana.
- Calming the mind and make it stable
- Reducing the nervousness
- Giving relaxation
- Relieving stress
- Inducing a meditative state through regular, slow and ryhtmatic breathing
Vajrasana Physical Benefits
You may not be unsure that this simple treatment could do much thing for physical health. However, both Yoga practitioners and Yoga experts reveal that physical benefits of Vajrasana do exist and make sense. It is even stated that doing 5-7 minutes Vajrasana is equal with a long walking exercise. From the above explanation, you may be able to imagine some of the physical benefits but here is the detail list;
- Supporting Flexibility and Body Toning. As you do the treatment more and more, your body would be more flexible. Additionally, all problems of nerve, muscles and joint would be well solved as you would keep train your body in good position and condition.
- Making the Blood Flow Smooth and Well-Distributed. The smooth blood flow would automatically heal any damage at body organ including at muscles and nerves as well mas make all body systems work well.
- Helping Digestion Process. This applies particularly when the treatment is done 15 minutes after meal. Therefore, it could also prevent acidity, ulcers, constipation, gas problems and other digestion problems.
- Supporting Weight Loss Program. It particularly applies when the treatment is done 15 minutes before meal. Through reducing the fat, this practice would be very helpful in making the diet or weight loss program successful.
- Removing any sciatica pain away
- Curing the problem of varicose pains
- Purifying the blood
- Serving as Breathing Exercise
- Healing and Preventing Various Diseases
- Strengthening Muscles and Nerves
- Vanishing Myalgia in the Legs, Toes and Knees
- Vanishing Flatulence
- Supporting the ‘work’ of stomach
- Healing severe lower back problems
- Strengthening the spine and giving it longevity
- Improving sexual activity quality
- Curing leg pain due to arthritis, urinary problems or sexual disorders.
Well, could you think about other simple, easy, short-time and affordable exercise with much more benefit than Vajrasana or Yoga? You do know the answer