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| Featured Yogi:Jody in Cobra |
Cobra pose is named after the King Cobra, is meant to
resemble the snake before it is about to strike. Cobra pose
is perplexing and beneficial for several reasons. The main reason has to do
with simultaneously overcoming the resistance of the connective tissue and
muscles in the front side of the body while backbending against gravity.
Anatomy:
Contraction
of Latissimus Dorsi and Erector Spinea
Compression
of spinous process, kidneys
and renal system
Stimulates
and massages abdominal and reproductive organs
Benefits:
§
Relieves back pain
§
Increases spinal strength and flexibility
§
Improves the function of the large and small intestines, liver,
kidney and spleen
§
Opens and stretches the heart and lungs
§
Opens the rib cage
§
Assists in the maximum expansion of the lungs increasing oxygen
intake, therapeutic for asthma
§
Improves digestion and elimination
§
Improves function of reproductive organs
§
Helps relieve lumbago, rheumatism and arthritis of the spine
§
Reduces symptoms of gout, herniated disc, sciatica, tennis elbow
§
Helps relieve menstrual stress
§
Strengthens the immune system and revitalizes the thyroid
§
Improves flexibility of hip and shoulder joints
§
Soothes sciatica
§
Strengthens and firms abdomen, hips, legs, buttocks and arms
§
Looking up tones the optic nerve, improving vision
§
Helps to regulate blood pressure through compression of the
kidneys and renal system
Getting Into The Posture:
Alignment
is everything, here are the most important lines from the dialogue
§
Top of the fingers in line with the top of the shoulders, baby
fingers in line with the deltoid
§
You have one leg like a cobra, don’t open it
§
From the side, your elbows should be ” L”, 90 degree angle, like
a rectangle
Remember that
the goal of cobra is compression and strengthening of
the spine. It is important to use your 100% back strength, but also to create the proper alignment to facilitate
the benefits of the pose. To do this, most students will need to use the hand
strength. Bikram says you CAN use the strength of your hands
and arms up to 15%, it is NOT a part of the pose to avoid the use of your hands
and arms.
Tips:
§
Your eyes should initiate the movement
§
Lengthen through your legs
§
When your knees are locked properly, the knees will come up off
the floor
§
Use the arm strength to augment the back strength
§
Your elbows should always be in, only the trapezius muscles
love,
the little yogaGal
