Today’s Poses: Chair Pose and Cobra Pose

Chair Pose and Cobra Pose – Benefits and Steps

Chair Pose

Sitting in a chair may sound very easy and comfortable. But sitting in an imaginary chair might be a little challenging! And this is exactly what we do in Utkatasana or Chair Pose. The literal meaning of Utkatasana is an intense posture or a powerful posture.

You need just a little bit of determination to stay longer in the Chair Posture. Make sure you read the contraindications before you start.

Steps

1. Stand erect with your feet slightly apart.
2. Stretch your hands to the front with palms facing downwards. Do not bend your elbows.
3. Bend the knees and gently push your pelvis down as if you are sitting in an imaginary chair.
4. Be comfortable or at least try to be! To get a better feel of the Chair Pose, imagine reading a newspaper or typing on a laptop as you remain seated.
5. Ensure that you keep your hands parallel to the ground.
6. With awareness, sit straight and lengthen your spine. Relax.
7. Keep breathing and flip through the pages of the newspaper, enjoying national and international news.
8. Sink deeper into the chair by gradually going down but ensure that your knees don’t go beyond your toes.
9. Keep going down slowly and then sit down in across-legged posture. If you want, you may lie down on your back and relax.

Benefits of the  Chair Pose

• Exercises the spine, hips and chest muscles
• Helps strengthen the lower back and torso
• Tones the thigh, ankle, leg and knee muscles
• Balances the body and brings determination in the mind

Cobra Pose

This asana resembles a serpent with its hood raised.

Steps

• Lie on your stomach with your toes flat on the floor and forehead resting on the ground.
• Keep your legs close together, with your feet and heels lightly touching each other.
• Place your hands (palms downwards) under your shoulders, keeping your elbows parallel and close to your torso.
• Taking a deep breath in, slowly lift your head, chest, and abdomen while keeping your navel on the floor.
• Pull your torso back and off the floor with the support of your hands.
• Checkpoint: Are you putting equal pressure on both the palms?
• Keep breathing with awareness, as you curve your spine vertebra by vertebra. If possible, straighten your arms by arching your back as much as possible; tilt your head back and lookup.
• Checkpoint: Are your shoulders away from your ears? Keep your shoulders relaxed, even if it means bending your elbows. With regular practice, you will be able to deepen the stretch by straightening the elbows.
• Ensure that your feet are still close together. Keep smiling and breathing. Smiling Cobras!
• Don’t overdo the stretch or overstrain yourself.
• Breathing out, gently bring your abdomen, chest, and head back to the floor.

Benefits of the Cobra Pose

• Opens up the shoulders and neck.
• Tones the abdomen.
• Strengthens the entire back and shoulders.
• Improves flexibility of the upper and middle back.
• Expands the chest.
• Improves blood circulation.
• Reduces fatigue and stress.
• Useful for people with respiratory disorders such as asthma. (Do not practice this yoga pose during the attack though).

Chair Pose and Cobra Pose improve flexibility and strengthen your entire back and shoulders.