Everyone has a demon they want to conquer in their life. Be it a bad decision or a past trauma, there is an inner battle waging in each one of us. But this does not mean you should give up the hope of a better tomorrow. Yoga can help you make this a reality. The Hero Pose yoga brings out your inner hero. This gives you the strength to conquer every obstacle in your path and live a fulfilling life.
Do you know the Sanskrit name of this yoga pose? It is Virasana. That is not all. There is a lot more you need to know about this yoga asana.
First, let us understand what the term Virasana means.
Virasana – The Deeper Meaning
The word Virasana contains Vira which refers to a “brave” person. It also denotes someone who has “victory or control over something. Vira comes from the Sanskrit word Virya. This is the energy or strength in your physical body.
An individual becomes a hero only by their actions. But it is their heroism that captures our attention when he conquers what he wanted to. For example, in the Indian epic Ramayana you find Lord Hanuman in a kneeling position before Lord Ram. We all know how Hanuman braved all odds to help Ram rescue Sita from the clutches of Ravan.
Sitting in the Hero Pose yoga is a symbol of overcoming your thoughts, desires, and inner turmoil. Doing this yoga asana helps you concentrate the mind on positive thoughts. It is a form of victory over the darker self.
Do you want to learn this powerful yoga asana? The information below will provide you with the answers.
Before we move ahead there are a few asanas linked to Hero Pose Yoga.
Preparatory Yoga Asanas for Hero Pose
- Bound Angle Pose
- Child’s Pose
There are some follow-up yoga asanas you can do with the Hero pose.
Follow-Up Yoga Asanas for Hero Pose Yoga
- Crow Pose
- Lotus Pose
- Heron Pose
- One-Legged Reclining Hero Pose
Steps to Practice Hero Pose Yoga
Before you start practicing the Hero Pose yoga make sure to fold the yoga mat in half.
- Come onto a kneeling position on the yoga mat.
- Adjust the folded yoga mat below your knee joint for support.
- Check your thighs. Keep your upper body perpendicular to lower legs and floor.
- Bring your knees together to fill in any gap between. Spread them out side by side.
- Your lower legs have to form a V shape. The tip of V shape denotes the direction of both knees.
- Maintain a hip-width distance between your feet.
- Press the top of your foot to the floor.
- Point the big toes back and away from each other.
- Bend your torso forward. Wedge both thumbs into calves.
- Slowly come down with your hips. Draw your calves muscles to the heels.
- Make space in your knees to sit on the floor.
- Make sure your buttocks rest on the floor. Your hips should touch the inner heels.
- Rollback your shoulders. Open your chest and sit up tall like a hero.
- Do not let the knees fall apart. Hold this position.
- Keep both hands in Dhyana Mudra over your lap.
- Place both hands on thighs. Keep the palms facing down.
- Hold this pose for 30 seconds.
- Come out slowly from the pose. Lean forward from the torso and take both feet off the ground.
- Pull both ankles in front of you. Straighten both your legs.
But, there are a few precautions you should take when doing the Hero Pose Yoga.
Precautions for Hero Pose Yoga
- Make sure to take care of any knee or ankle-related injury.
- Do not practice the Hero Pose Yoga if you have a heart issue, headache, or arthritis.
- If you suffer from joint or back pain then do this yoga asana under guidance of an experienced yoga teacher.
Keeping these steps in mind will help you reap the benefits of this yoga pose.
Benefits of Hero Pose Yoga
- Gives your knees, ankles, quadriceps, and pelvis a good stretch
- Improves functioning of cardiovascular and respiratory system
- Cures flatulence, constipation, indigestion, and piles
- Improves body posture through upright spinal alignment
- Relieves symptoms of Menopause
- Keeps knee joints mobile and healthy
- Offers therapeutic benefits for High Blood Pressure and Asthma.
Conclusion
The Hero Pose Yoga provides your body and mind with a host of benefits. You can learn this yoga asana from experienced yoga teachers at a certified yoga school.