About Ardha Matsyendrasana –
Ardha Matsyendrasana is a Sanskrit language consisting of four (Ardh + Matsya + Indra + Asan) words. Where ‘Ardha’ means half, ‘Matsya’ means fish, ‘Indra’ means Lord Indra (Lord), and ‘Asan’ means posture.
Do this asana before doing Ardha Matsyendrasana –
Before performing Ardh Matsyendrasana, it is advisable to do the following yoga asanas given below. By doing these asanas, your body gets flexibility and increases the temperature of the muscles of your body, which will make it easier for you to do Half Matsyendrasana.
- Paschimottanasana.
- Ustrasana.
- Vakrasana.
Ardha Matsyendrasana Steps
The steps of doing Ardha Matsyendrasana is given below, read it before doing it carefully. This will ease you while doing Ardh Matsyendrasana. This is done by sitting in the posture.
Step 1- Sit with your legs outward, now bend your right leg from the knee with the ground and keep the right foot under the left thigh, make sure that there are 4-5 inches distance between right heel and perineum.
Step 2- Now bend your left leg from the knee and place it on the outer side of the right thigh, near the right knee. Take care not to sit on the heel, you can take help from the above picture.
Step 3- Inhale, raise the left hand and raise the shoulder.
Step 4- While exhaling, bend your waist to the left and bring the right hand to the outer side of the left knee, hold the left toe with the right hand. In this position, hold the right arm (triceps) on the edge of the left knee.
Step 5- Now move the left hand behind the back and try to touch the right thigh. Look back at your neck, your chin is in the back of the left shoulder, take normal breaths and maintain this position for about 1 minute or so.
Step 6- Now put your neck in front, keeping your hands on the ground, spread your legs out and sit in the normal position.
Next- Now do the same from another side.
Points need to keep in mind while doing Ardh Matsyendrasana
- Take care not to sit on the heel.
Benefits of Ardha Matsyendrasana Yoga
There are several benefits of Ardh Matsyendrasana, you can go through these health benefits given below.
- Ardha Matsyendrasana gives flexibility to the spine, tones the spine.
- This asana helps to cure constipation.
- Ardh Matsyendrasana is very beneficial for diabetes.
- Performing half Matsyandrasana increases lung capacity.
Restrictions for Ardha Matsyendrasana Yoga
Below is the list of diseases, people who are suffering from these diseases should not do Ardh Matsyendrasana.
- If you have recently had stomach surgery, do not do this asana.
- Do not do the one who is going through pain in the back.
- Pregnant women should not do this asana.
- This asana should not be done if there is heart disease or ulcer.
Do these asana after Ardha Matsyendrasana Yoga
- Supt Vajrasana
- Shashankasana
Best tips for beginners to do Ardh Matsyendrasana –
If you do not do yoga regularly, then there is a stiffness in your body due to which you may feel difficulty in doing asanas. In the initial phase, therefore, you should do asana in a simple way, it will make you feel comfortable.
- Sit with your legs spread outwards.
- Keep your right leg under the knee and below the left thigh.
- Now bend your left leg and place it near the right knee. If you have difficulty in putting the foot outside the right thigh, then you keep it inside the knee.
- Turn the body above your waist to the right if you cannot bend your body completely, then bend it as much as you can.
- Place your left hand on the right thigh and your right hand on the ground near the hip.
- Maintain this position according to capacity, gradually come to your resting position, and repeat this process from the other side.
- If you do this easy method regularly, then you will feel comfortable doing the above difficult way.
There are many things that you can achieve by including Ardha Matsyendra in your daily routine. You can explore much about yoga asana by becoming a part of Yoga Teacher Training in Rishikesh, India.