Gorakshasana is an intermediate level yoga asana yogic posture generally practiced for meditation for various mental and health benefits. The pose is a very simple seated balancing posture, which requires extreme flexibility in the leg muscles of the practitioner.
A person of any age group can perform it. By practicing this asana, it becomes easier for both men and women to follow celibacy.
Gorakshasana Basics
| Sanskrit Pronunciation | Gorakshasana ( ) |
| Meaning | ‘go’ refers to ‘cow’, ‘raksha’ means ‘protector’ Asana means pose or posture |
| Pose Type | Seated balancing posture |
| Pose Level | Intermediate level yoga |
| Style of yoga | Hatha Yoga tradition |
| Other Names | Cowherd Pose |
| Stretches | The leg muscles |
| Strengthening | The leg joints |
| Duration | 30 second to 3 minutes |
Meaning
The term Gorakshasana is composed of three Sanskrit words. Here, ‘go’ refers to ‘cow’, ‘raksha’ means ‘protector’, and ‘asana’ is ‘pose.’
This cultural asana is named after the great Yogi Goraksanath. Yogi Goraksanatha is often seen in this posture. He was the founder of the Nath yoga tradition, who is said to have used this yoga pose for meditation. This pose is accordingly practiced by tantric devotees and the kanphata yogis.
He believed that this Yogasana is very beneficial in reducing the spasticity of the mind and increasing the intellectual level. By regular practice, the inertia of the body is eliminated and can eliminate several diseases.
Yoga Texts and Gorakshasana
The Pose Gorakshasana is one of the eighty-four asanas (postures) taught in the second chapter of the Gheraṇḍasaṃhita. It is a major constituent of the Hatha yoga practice, written by Śrīnivāsa.
Gorakshasana is another name for Bhadrasana, the English name is Cowherd Pose.
The steps of Gorakshasana are simple to perform but in the beginning, it is advisable to practice under the yoga expert.
Practice Guide For Gorakshasana
Gorakshasana involves a sequence of movements that challenge the practitioner’s balance, flexibility, and focus. To facilitate a step-by-step approach, the pose is divided into key components, allowing practitioners to grasp each element before attempting the full pose. These components typically include the initial posture, transitional phases, and the final position.
Preparatory Pose
How to do Gorakshasana (Yogi Gorakhnath’s Pose)
- To come in, Gorakshasana first of all, you need to sit with the legs outstretched in front. Or the Dandasana position.
- Now, bend your knees, bring the feet in front of the groin and place the soles together.
- Make sure the soles of both feet should be touching each other.
- Draw the heels up to the perineum and toes touching the ground.
- After that, while exhaling, put your both hands on the ground and press them.
- Now, raise your body up and sit on the toes of both feet in such a way that the weight of the body falls right in the middle of the heel.
- Try to stretch the knees in such a way that the knees remain on the floor.
- Now crossing both your hands, hold the right heel with the left hand and the left heel with the right hand.
- In this position, straighten your spine, looks state forward or on Nasikagra Drishti (nose-tip gazing).
- And more, Close the eyes, Concentrate on breathing and join your hands in prayer position or attain any of the gazing Mudras.
- Finally, Maintain the final pose as long as Or till you feel comfortable.
Benefits of Gorakshasana (Yogi Gorakhnath’s Pose)
Improves balance
Gorakshasana provides a sense of balance while keeping the spine and thighs straight. This asana helps a lot in strengthening the ligaments and muscles of the feet. With its regular practice, the knees of the legs become strong and the joints of the hips become flexible.
Better digestion
By doing Gorakshasana yoga, there is a light massage of the internal abdominal organs or the abdominal muscles are strengthened. This can speed up the digestion process. Gorakshasana is especially recommended against irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Enhancing digestive power is a well-known health benefit among the many benefits of Gorakshasana yoga.
Stimulates sexual energy
This is the biggest benefit of Gorakhnath’s Pose. By doing this pose regularly, tones the reproductive organs and reproductive system remains healthy. This pose increases blood circulation to all the reproductive organs, making you more fertile. Not only this, this activates the sexual energy and improves their functioning.
Strengthens leg muscles
Gorakshasana makes the legs and feet muscles extremely flexible. As well as makes the feet and legs supple. Regular practice of this asana helps to remove spasms and stiffness of the leg joints, ankles, hips, buttocks, calves, and knee joints.
Activates kundalini
This yoga pose stimulates the energy throughout the body and aids in kundalini awakening. It improves concentration, helps calms the mind, and complete awareness.
Precautions
- People who have knee pain problems should not perfome Gorakshasana.
- If there is obesity due to intestinal diseases and thyroid, do not practice this asana.
Conclusion
This asana works amazingly well in stretches the knee, buttocks, leg, hamstrings, and groins as well as stimulates the various organs of the body. Gorakshasana benefits associated with Padmasana that relieves anxiety, fatigue, headache, menstrual discomfort.
