Garudasana (Eagle) - An asana for more balance and strength Garudasana is a yoga pose named after Vishnu's mount – the eagle Garuda. Even in ancient times, the eagle was considered the king of birds and a symbol of dominion and power. The eagle is admired primarily for its qualities such as strength, lightness, endurance, and speed. The mythical eagle Garuda is considered a hybrid creature; it has a human-like golden body, a white beak, a white face, and red wings. Garudasana is performed standing and is considered a relatively simple balance exercise .
In this asana, the arms and legs entwine, giving the yoga pose a look reminiscent of an eagle. When you perform Gerudasana, you cross your legs so that it looks as if you are standing on one leg, just like an eagle. Your clasped hands, in turn, resemble a beak. With this asana, you can not only look like an eagle, but also feel like one: magnificent, powerful, and free. And not only that, because Garuda is Vishnu's mount, you also open yourself to his blessings and energy. The asana therefore has an ambivalent effect: you cannot feel powerful and humble at the same time. You can feel strong but also ask for Vishnu's blessing.
The technique of Garudasana
To perform Garudasana, first stand upright and stretch out your right leg. Now lift your left leg and wrap it around your right leg from behind. Make sure that your left thigh crosses the right. Take inspiration from nature and wrap your left leg around your right, like a vine wraps around a tree trunk. Do the same with your arms, making sure your palms are touching. Your hands should be at face height, and your fingers should be pointed so that they resemble an eagle's beak. Now, in a slow, forward motion, bend as if you were touching the floor with your left toe. Bend both legs and ask someone for help if you find the movement difficult at first. But the effort is worth it, because only by bending forward does the asana develop its full effect.
You may be wondering which arm should wrap first and which arm should be bent initially. Let your body decide this and follow the principle of balance – what you practice on one side of the body must be practiced with the same intensity and frequency on the other side. Try to hold the asana for five long breaths. Then slowly return to an upright position and then switch sides.
The effects of the asana
When you perform Garudasana, your entire body weight is on a single leg. This allows the asana to strengthen the bones and nerves in your hands and legs. Furthermore, the pose stretches the muscles in your hands and legs, so this asana can also promote growth. At the same time, this pose is said to strengthen the kidneys and nerves and help relieve rheumatism in the hands and legs, as well as hip problems. Garudasana is also said to have other benefits. For example, the asana can lead to stronger spinal bones and support the healing of a hernia or swollen testicles. Your calves can also benefit from this asana; if practiced regularly, strong muscles will develop there over time. Garudasana can also help with varicose veins, as the clenching and tensing of the arms and legs stimulates blood circulation.
Image © gladkov / 123rf.com
