Do you guys know what is celebrated on 21st June every year? No price for guessing. It is Yoga Day. Let us today know more about Yoga and one of the most popular yoga asanas- Vajrasana.
Yoga is a traditional and time-honoured-holistic system of personal, physical, mental and spiritual wellness focusing on the union of mind, body, and soul. ‘Yoga’ is derived from the Sanskrit root ‘Yuj’ means ‘to join or to connect’. It is the union of individual consciousness with that of universal consciousness. The aim of Yoga is self-realisation and to overcome all kinds of suffering that lead to a ‘State of liberation’ or ‘Freedom’.
Now that you have understood about Yoga, let’s delve deeper into what benefits you can reap from Vajrasana. Let’s get started.
Meaning And Importance Of Vajrasana
Vajrasana is a simple sitting pose. Its name comes from the Sanskrit word ‘Vajra’, meaning thunderbolt or diamond. This posture provides a deep stretch for the quadriceps to the top of your feet. When you practise the pose, ensure that you do not strain your lower body. Your upper body should be upright and relaxed, with core muscles active and shoulders soft. Consequently, this posture obstructs the blood flow to the body, which increases the circulation in the pelvic and abdominal area, encouraging bowel movement and improving overall digestion. In fact, it is one of the few asanas that you can practise on a full stomach.
Steps to do Vajrasana
- Start by kneeling on the floor. Use a yoga mat for your comfort.
- Pull your knees and ankles together and point your feet in line with your legs. The bottoms of your feet should face upward with your big toes touching.
- Exhale as you sit back on your legs. Let your buttocks rest on your heels and your thighs on your calves.
- Put your hands on your thighs and adjust your pelvis slightly backwards and forward until you are in a comfortable position.
- Breathe in and out slowly as you position yourself to sit up straight by straightening your spine. Use your head to gaze forward, with your chin parallel to the floor. Position your hands down on your thighs with your arms relaxed.
Health Benefits of Vajrasana
Given below are the health benefits of performing Vajrasana every day:
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Good For Digestion
While you are performing Vajrasana, blood flow to your thighs and legs gets obstructed. The blood flow is increased in the stomach area, thus improving your bowel movements and relieving constipation. Moreover, it also helps you to get rid of flatulence and acidity and helps in better absorption of nutrients.
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Relieves Lower Back Pain
Performing Vajrasana every day helps you strengthen your lower back muscles and it helps provide relief from the occasional back pain. Moreover, performing this asana is also beneficial if you are suffering from sciatica (pain, weakness, tingling, or numbness in the leg).
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Keeps Blood Sugar Level Under Control
Vajrasana is beneficial to keep your blood sugar levels in check. The asana stimulates various organs like the liver and the pancreas, and it helps your body create the optimal amount of insulin. Besides, performing this asana facilitates short-term improvement in your blood sugar level.
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Relieves Rheumatic Pain
The asana helps relieve rheumatic pain (pain in joints, muscles, or fibrous tissue). The more you perform this pose, the more flexible you become. It makes your foot, thighs, muscles around ankles, hips and knees more flexible. As a result, flexibility helps you overcome any rheumatic pain.
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Strengthens Pelvic Floor Muscles
Performing this asana increases blood circulation in the pelvis region and strengthens the pelvic floor muscles significantly. Furthermore, it helps women who have urinary incontinence. The asana also helps women suffering from menstrual pain and pain experienced during labour before delivery.
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Treats High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is a condition which can sometimes lead to strokes, heart attacks, and even death. Hence, high blood pressure is also known as the ‘silent killer’. Vajrasana helps reduce stress & blood pressure levels and protects you from cardiovascular disorders.
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Helps Calm Your Mind
In addition to performing Vajrasana, you can practise meditation and breathing exercises in this position. It helps calm your mind, reduces stress, improves concentration, and keeps you away from anxiety and depression. A reduction in stress and anxiety leads to a good night’s sleep.
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Helps Reduce Obesity
Did you know that the percentage of obese men and women in India has risen from 21 to 24 per cent in women and 19 to 23 per cent in men? It is scary, right? Don’t worry, we have a solution for you. Practising Vajrasana daily can boost your digestion and help reduce the fat present in the belly area. It is helpful in the reduction of body mass index and obesity as well.
Summing Up
There is a significant rise in diseases because of the sedentary lifestyle. Therefore, it is crucial to take care of yourself. Yoga is something through which you can manage your stress and change your lifestyle, thus making you healthier. So, what are you waiting for? Start practising Yoga today and start living a healthy life.
