Yoga For You
Ray Madigan and Shelley Choy
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MANOA YOGA CENTER
April Lee demonstrates stage one of the Gomukhasana pose utilizing a blanket and blocks.
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Gomukhasana -- Stage 1
(Cow Face Pose)
"Go" is the Sanskrit word for cow, and "mukha" means face. This pose looks like the face of a cow.
This is a difficult pose to master as it requires great concentration to achieve the balance. Hence it is recommended for those who have trouble with mental focus.
Gomukhasana massages and releases tension in the calf muscles and makes them elastic. The practice of this asana brings relief to stiff knees and is a boon to runners and people who are on their feet a lot. In the final pose, the arm position helps to expand the chest and create more flexibility in the shoulders.
Here we present Stage 1 showing the position of the legs and torso. You will find this stage easier if you practice Vajrasana first (see last week's column.)
1. Place a folded yoga mat and blanket on the floor. You could also sit on a rug or carpeted floor.
2. Kneel with the knees and feet together (see last week's column.)
3. Keep the left foot in place as you cross the right thigh over the left thigh. Move the right foot next to the left. Keep the toes of both feet pointing backward.
4) Place the hands beside the hips as you sit down onto the feet. Use the hands on the floor to help balance. You can also put the hands on yoga blocks or similar.
At first the pressure on the calves is intense. If it is too much, then come up and repeat a few times until you can sit easily.
5) Repeat to both sides a few times, and then try to balance with hands on the thighs. If the balance is too difficult, place a folded blanket over the feet to give a broader support for the buttocks. Learn to balance for up to a minute on each side while observing the flow of breath with a quiet mind.
Ray Madigan and
Shelley Choy are certified Iyengar Yoga teachers and co-direct the Manoa Yoga Center at Manoa Marketplace. Visit
www.manoayoga.com or call 382-3910. Manoa Yoga Center, the authors and the Star-Bulletin take no responsibility for any injury arising from the practice of these yoga postures. Readers should seek a doctor's approval before commencing this yoga practice.