Laghu Vajrasana: Heart Opening in Small Thunderbolt Pose It's one of those yoga poses that stands out for its expressive posture and striking name: Laghu Vajrasana, even its name, demonstrates that yoga is always connected to the highest and incorporates the divine and nature into a holistic approach. The pose itself is a single opening to life: hips and heart are equally open to encounter the world in all its facets.
The asana is easy to describe: The practitioner moves from a heel-seated pose into an intense backbend. This continues until the crown of the head rests on the earth, connecting with our roots. Thus, Laghu Vajrasana is one of the exercises that shows us that we have both the roots of our origins and our connection to the highest, and that we cannot be lost. For greater stability and a harmonious finish, the hands rest on the thighs in Laghu Vajrasana.
The effects of Laghu Vajrasana: beneficial for body, mind and soul
Like most other yoga asanas, the Thunderbolt pose offers holistic, tangible benefits. Your physical and mental well-being, as well as your soul, are positively influenced. Physically, your abdominal and chest muscles are intensely stretched. This gives you an upright posture and, by expanding your chest, allows you to breathe more freely. In Laghu Vajrasana, the weight of your body rests on the heel seat, making this asana a good option if you want to specifically strengthen your legs. The exercise also has a positive effect on your spine: It improves your spinal mobility and stimulates the spinal nerves in the vertebral canal.
In the emotional and spiritual realm, you'll benefit from engaging in a posture that's not entirely ordinary and, at first, not entirely comfortable. Through the intense backbend, you place yourself in a virtually defenseless position, as you open your heart, and learn that you are still supported and protected by the earth and the highest. This often reduces anxiety and can also be helpful if you occasionally suffer from depression.
Step by step to the asana
Laghu Vajrasana belongs to the second series of Ashtanga asanas. It's a physically demanding exercise that's best approached gradually if you don't already have the necessary leg strength and flexibility in your muscles and spine.
The individual warrior poses are particularly suitable for leg strength, giving you strength and stability with each exercise. Flexibility in the spine and the front of the body is particularly improved with all backbends. Camel pose is ideal for this, as this asana allows you to gradually move into the backbend and also mentally engage with this pose.
When you feel fit enough to enter Laghu Vajrasana, assume the heel seat. Before you begin the backbend, consciously stretch your body vertically and aim the crown of your head toward the highest. Only then do you gently ease into the backbend, grasping your ankles with your hands. When your head reaches the floor, hyperextend your throat and ground the crown of your head. If you want to exit this asana after a few calm breaths, support this by gently pulling your hands on your ankles.
If you need a block, you can help : simply place a suitable yoga block under your head, then you won't have to go so far into the backbend at first!
Contraindications:
If you have problems with your neck, back, or knees, your yoga teachers will be happy to recommend alternatives to Laghu Vajrasana. The same applies if you suffer from headaches or high blood pressure.
Image © comotomo / 123rf.com
