Not just another yoga pose, the Hanumanasana or the Monkey Pose is a highly advanced yoga pose, which requires regular practice. It’s always advisable to include certain hip-opening exercises and leg stretches into your daily yoga workout schedule before attempting to do this pose. Moreover, if you can avail the guidance of a yoga expert, it will help you minimize risks of any injuries.
Here we have created a brief tutorial that leads you through the technicalities, benefits, therapeutic applications and cautions concerning the Monkey Pose.
Steps Involved
1. Go down on your knees with your knees spaced out and your thighs perpendicular to the floor or the yoga mat.
2. Bring your right leg forward while making sure that your heel is on the floor. Now, slide your right heel forward. During this process, your right leg should be as straight as possible. Bring your left leg behind you; as straighter as your right leg is.
3. Though it might sound a bit laborious for newbies, they have to keep their hips parallel to each other which is quite strenuous.
4. Now, bend your right leg and bring it closer to your body.
5. Finally, stay in this position for 23-30 seconds and then repeat this pose on the other side.
Benefits
1. When practiced regularly, the Monkey Pose helps you prevent sciatica, ensure blood flow to all body parts, improve digestion and relieve insomnia and stress.
2. Just the perfect asana for your legs, the Hanumanasana makes them flexible and supple. Joggers, sprinters, climbers and cyclists should make this asana a part of their yoga routine.
3. The Monkey Pose tones up your abdominal muscles aside from opening up your hips and groin region. Thus, it increases balance, flexibility and alignment.
Cautions
1. Those suffering from hamstring or groin injuries should avoid practicing this yoga pose.
2. Be cautious while practice Hanumanasana. Don’t push your body since it’s an advanced pose and can lead to injury. Once you have adapted your body to the technicalities of Monkey Pose, you can execute this split the way you like.
