Marichyasana: A Twisted Sage’s Pose?

Take the title of this text as you’ll. Marichyasana (Marichi’s Pose) honors an historic 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. Nonetheless, not all of Marichi’s exploits could possibly be deemed as gentle stuffed.

Sooner or later, upon coming back from gathering wooden within the forest, a drained Marichi known as to his spouse, Dharmavrata, to scrub his ft. 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 is perhaps 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. Consequently, Lord Vishnu lifted the curse, solely to have it reinstated by her still-angry husband. Oh properly.

Thankfully, working towards Marichyasana doesn’t require that we both consider or observe the trajectory of this fable. As an alternative, we are able to benefit from the fruits of a easy spinal twist with out the patriarchal baggage.

Why Follow Marichyasana?

There are a number of variations of Marichyasana. In actual fact, 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 known as Marichyasana III. At this time’s model is sort of much 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 a lot of advantages to working towards spinal twists usually. Listed here are just a few that come from common spinal twisting and a few which are particular to Marichyasana:

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

As with all poses, there are cautions to working towards 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 when you’ve got recognized disc illness, sacroiliac (SI) joint points, or again issues usually.

Follow Marichyasana

1. Collect your props: Yoga Mat, Yoga Block and Yoga Blanket. Chances are you’ll or might not want the block or blanket, but it surely’s good to have them useful, simply in case.
2. Sit in your mat together 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? In that 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. Practising this very fashionable alignment trope whereas twisting can displace your sacroiliac (SI) joint. As an alternative, enable your proper ischial tuberosity (sitting bone) to attract again.
7. Place your proper hand behind you on the ground. Should 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 will help you lengthen your backbone.
8. Place your left elbow on the surface of your proper knee. Should you discover that your shoulders are hunching ahead, launch your elbow and place your left hand on the surface 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 surface 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 facet and received’t attain your knee with out your having to bend your shoulders ahead.)
9. Take 5 to 10 deep breaths right here. If respiration is tough, rotate out of the pose a bit. Respiratory is extra necessary than what your pose appears 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 facet.