Marichyasana: A Twisted Sage’s Pose?

Take the title of this text as you’ll. Marichyasana (Marichi’s Pose) honors an historical sage of yogic mythology. Marichi was the son of Brahma, the divine creator. His identify actually means “ray of sunshine” from the solar or moon in Sanskrit. Nevertheless, not all of Marichi’s exploits may very well be deemed as gentle crammed.

Someday, upon getting back from gathering wooden within the forest, a drained Marichi referred to as to his spouse, Dharmavrata, to scrub his toes. When Brahma unexpectedly entered their dwelling, Dharmavrata was confused as to which of the gods ought to take priority. Technically, it appeared that turning her consideration to the divine creator may be the right path, in order that’s what she did. This incurred the wrath of her husband, who put a curse on her, turning her right into a stone. Subsequently, Dharmavrata spent years in devoted meditation follow to atone for her unforgivable fake pas. Because of this, Lord Vishnu lifted the curse, solely to have it reinstated by her still-angry husband. Oh effectively.

Thankfully, practising Marichyasana doesn’t require that we both imagine or comply with the trajectory of this fantasy. As an alternative, we will benefit from the fruits of a easy spinal twist with out the patriarchal baggage.

Why Apply Marichyasana?

There are a number of variations of Marichyasana. In reality, the web site, Tummee, touts 62 variations, together with variations in arm positions, chair variations and extra. Right here on the Hugger Mugger weblog, I’ve beforehand written about what’s often referred to as Marichyasana III. At this time’s model is kind of just like that one. The one distinction is that the knee of the underside leg is bent as a substitute of straight, eliminating hamstring challenges.

There are various advantages to practising spinal twists usually. Listed here are just a few that come from common spinal twisting and a few which can be particular to Marichyasana:

• Stretches the backbone and the again muscle mass.
• Will increase the flexibleness and energy of the backbone and again muscle mass.
• Loosens shoulder muscle mass.
• Massages the interior organs and glands.
• Might assist to alleviate fatigue.

As with all poses, there are cautions to practising twists, together with seated twists. Don’t follow twists if you’re within the first trimester of being pregnant. Additionally, take care on this pose if in case you have identified disc illness, sacroiliac (SI) joint points, or again issues usually.

The right way to Apply Marichyasana

1. Collect your props: Yoga Mat, Yoga Block and Yoga Blanket. You might or could not want the block or blanket, however it’s good to have them useful, simply in case.
2. Sit in your mat along with your legs stretched out in entrance of you.
3. Bend your proper knee and step your proper foot over your left leg, in order that the only of your foot rests on the ground.
4. Now bend your left knee, putting your left heel subsequent to your proper hip.
5. Verify your backbone. Are the vertebrae poking out in your lumbar backbone? If that’s the case, place a folded blanket underneath your glutes to raise your pelvis.
6. Rotate your backbone to the appropriate, permitting your proper hip to scoot again. Don’t attempt to sq. your hips—in any twist. Training this very fashionable alignment trope whereas twisting can displace your sacroiliac (SI) joint. As an alternative, permit your proper ischial tuberosity (sitting bone) to attract again.
7. Place your proper hand behind you on the ground. When you’re not capable of contact the ground, or barely capable of contact, place your block underneath your hand in order that it makes stable contact. Then press down via your hand that can assist you lengthen your backbone.
8. Place your left elbow on the skin of your proper knee. When you discover that your shoulders are hunching ahead, launch your elbow and place your left hand on the skin of the appropriate knee as a substitute. (The ratio between the size of the torso, size of the humerus bone and the size of the bones in our legs is totally different for every particular person. In case your shoulders hunch ahead when your elbow is on the skin of your knee, it’s not a sign of a scarcity of flexibility. It’s extra probably that your humerus bone is on the shorter aspect and gained’t attain your knee with out your having to bend your shoulders ahead.)
9. Take 5 to 10 deep breaths right here. If respiratory is troublesome, rotate out of the pose a bit. Respiration is extra essential than what your pose seems like.
10. Return to the middle, stretch your legs out and take just a few breaths to tune into your physique earlier than switching to your second aspect.