Simhasana, also known as Lion Pose, is a simple yet powerful yoga posture that can help to relieve tension in the face, neck, and shoulders. This posture involves a unique combination of stretching, deep breathing, and a fierce facial expression, making it an effective way to release pent-up emotions and boost mental clarity.
Overview
| Attribute | Description |
|---|---|
| English Name | Lion Pose |
| Sanskrit Name | Simhasana |
| Meaning | The word “Simha” means “lion” while “asana” means “pose” or “seat.” Simhasana translates into the pose of the lion. |
| Base Position | Sitting on the heels |
| Duration | 5-10 minutes |
| Body Part | Throat, Knees, Thighs |
| Category | Vajrasana Group of Asanas |
| Benefits | Simhasana helps stimulate the throat chakra. It can help enhance focus and concentration, making it an ideal posture for those seeking mental clarity and stress relief. |
How to do Simhasana (Lion Pose)
- Sit in vajrasana with the knees about 45 cm apart.
- The toes of both feet should remain in contact with each other.
- Lean forward and place the palms of the hands on the floor between the knees, with the fingers pointing towards the body.
- Straighten the arms fully and arch the back.
- Rest the body on the straight arms.
- Tilt the head back so that there is a comfortable amount of tension in the neck.
- Close the eyes and focus the inner gaze at the eyebrow centre, performing shambhavi mudra.
- The eyes may also be kept open, in which case gaze at a point on the ceiling.
- The mouth should be closed.
- Relax the whole body and mind.
Benefits of Simhasana
- Relieves tension in neck & shoulders: Simhasana helps to relieve tension in the face, neck, and shoulders by stretching and relaxing the muscles in these areas.
- Stimulates throat chakra: The throat chakra, located in the neck area, is associated with communication and self-expression. Practicing Simhasana helps to stimulate this chakra and improve communication skills.
- Digestion: Simhasana is also believed to improve digestion by toning the muscles of the face, mouth, and throat, and increasing blood flow to the digestive organs.
- Alleviates anxiety and depression: The deep breathing and stretching involved in Simhasana can help to calm the mind and alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression.
- Relieves headaches: The stretching and relaxation of the neck muscles while performing the lion pose can help relieve tension headaches.
- Improves concentration: The practice of this pose involves focusing on the breath and the movement of the body, which can help to improve focus and concentration.
- Stability: In this posture there is a very definite extension of the spinal cord and the body is absolutely fixed. There is total physical stability.
Practice Note:
- Generally, simhasana is associated with the roaring lion posture, but the scriptures give that posture as a variation of simhasana (see simhagarajanasana, the roaring lion, given in the following practice).
- In this asana the lion is sitting quietly, waiting for something to happen. This is the mental attitude the mind has to adopt in order to enter deep meditative states.