Parry like a butterfly: the Baddha Konasana pose that improves male and female health
It is suitable not only for meditation, but also for daily warm-up.
Butterfly pose is one of the most common asanas in yoga, it is used for breathing practices, meditation and pranayama (a set of exercises to manage vital energy). Baddha Konasana – that’s what the name sounds like in Sanskrit – is easy to perform and has a positive effect on overall well-being.
What is the butterfly pose useful for?
Performing Baddha Konasana on a regular basis improves blood circulation in the abdomen, back and pelvis, which in turn normalizes the hormonal background. In women it relieves menstrual pain and has a positive effect on the internal genital organs, and in men – on the functioning of the prostate gland.
Butterfly pose is also good as a prevention of varicose veins. Another useful property of asana is prevention of hernia formation.
Before performing Baddha Konasana, people with chronic diseases of hip joints, injuries of the spine, knees and groin should consult a doctor.
How to perform butterfly pose?
When performing asana, it is worth considering several nuances. The most important thing is to relax completely. Muscles should be stretched as much as possible.
If during the exercise you feel discomfort or pain, it is better to consult a doctor to rule out the possibility of injury and make sure that everything is in order.
The starting position for asana is sitting on the floor with straight legs and straight back. Gently bend your legs at the knees so that you can bring your feet together. Put your hands around your locked feet and pull your heels as close to you as possible. Bring your knees apart and try to lower them to the floor – you can help yourself with your elbows. In this position straighten your back and feel how your spine stretches. As you exhale, lean forward and try to touch the floor with your forehead.
Recommendations for beginners
If you don’t manage to fully open your knees the first time, don’t worry. At first you can put a twisted plaid or special rollers under your thighs. If the asana is performed regularly, the muscles will stretch over time.
Never tense the muscles of your hips during the exercise, as this increases the risk of injury. Only when you are completely relaxed, you will be able to achieve maximum opening.
Often beginners find it difficult to stay in a pose with a straight back. In this case, you can perform the asana by pressing against the wall. So you can strengthen the muscles of the back, and soon you will not need a support.
Kontraindikasjoner
Like many yoga poses, Buddha Konasana has a number of contraindications. Although they can hardly be called strict. Nevertheless, people with knee or groin injuries should take special care when performing the asana. As a rule, in such cases, a support is placed under the hips to avoid overloading the injured parts.