Simhasana (Lion Pose): Basics, Steps, Benefits & More

The times may be modern, but modern people say – Yoga is an ancient Indian system of physical and mental health. Yoga is an exercise that originated in ancient India and is primarily a spiritual discipline with beautiful postures such as thrones. The practice of simhasana is widely used for health and relaxation, including the adoption of specific body postures.

Although Simhasana is not a familiar pose, Simhasana practice is considered to be one of the simplest facial exercises for spiritual upliftment, physical fitness and emotional balance. The body and facial expressions become lion-like to invoke the power and intensity of the lion’s roar. Simhasana (Lion pose) virtually mimics the roar of a lion and the benefits of the throne help promote smart yoga postures. Benefits of Simhasana is believed to stimulate the platysma and is exceptionally beneficial for the throat, face, hands and respiratory organs.

Simhasana Basics

Meaning

The Simhasana is a coin of two words Simha and asana. Simha is a Sanskrit word that means lion (King of a jungle) and Asana means pose. the posture exceptionally resembles a strong seated lion, hence the name Simha asana Or Lion Pose. Simhasana is combining of body posture and Pranayama (breathwork) to produce a roaring deep exhalation during the peak of Lion Pose.

Simhasana is an excellent asana relatively easy to perform and can be done by all, from child to young. This asana must be practiced with the other yoga asanas. Let us look at how to do the Lion pose as well as different steps to change it up.

Practice Guide for Simhasana (Lion Pose)

This guide provides practitioners with a systematic breakdown of the pose, offering clear instructions on body positioning, alignment, and breathing techniques.

Preparatory Pose

• Baddha Konasana
• Dandasana
• Siddhasana
• Supta Virasana
• Virasana

Step To Do Simhasana (Lion Pose)

• To begin the asana, first sit in Vajrasana (kneel down), Bend the right leg at the knee and place it behind the left leg on the thigh. Similarly, bend the left leg from the knee and place it on the thigh of the right leg on the backside.
• In this position, move your body slightly forward and Place both hands on the ground in front of both knees.
• Transferring your weight to your arms.
• Keep in mind that the part above the waist is bent forward, yet it should be straight in 90 degrees.
• Move your head backward comfortably and lift your chest up.
• Take a deep inhalation through the nose, open your mouth wide and stretch your tongue out as wide as possible.
• Now, look up from the eyes i.e. raise the pupils of the eyes and focus your gaze on the eyebrow center.
• Contract the muscles at the front of the throat, fully exhale the tongue and make a sound of ‘Ahhhh. Make sure that the breath should pass through the back of the throat.
• This situation is exactly like a roaring lion.
• Roar a few times and maintain the position as comfortably as possible.
• After exhaling take the tongue in, close the mouth and now breathe normally.
• In the end, straighten the body, normalize the hands and spread both the legs straight in front, and relax.
• First, sit in Vajrasana and then relax in Child’s Pose.

If you want, you can also practice this asana by sitting in Padmasana posture, Vajrasana posture.

Health Benefits of Simhasana Yoga (Lion Pose)

In the yogic text, Gheranda Samhita says Simhasana destroys the diseases.

• Stimulates the Platysma – The benefits of lion yoga help in stimulating platysma. It is a thin, flat, and rectangular muscle located on the front of the throat. This asana keeps this muscle healthy.

• Activates the Bandhas- Simhasana also activates the three major Bandhas – Jalandhara, Mula, and Uddiyana.

• Activates the Chakra– The Manipura chakra and Vishuddha Chakra are activated by the practice of the Throne Mudra and promote the health of the organs around the neck.

• Enhances the Beauty- This yoga practice stretches all the muscles in general and facial muscles in particular and at the same time increases the effect of blood. And in this way enhances your beauty.

• Get Rid of Bad Breath or Halitosis- To do the lion yoga pose, you have to turn your tongue outwards. It helps to exercise your mouth due to the full stretch of the tongue out of the mouth. It also can help for curing bad breath.

• Increases the Stretch- Simhasana is an excellent exercise for the face and throat and increases the stretch in the body. This pose also aids in the thyroid and parathyroid glands.

• Increases eyesight- Simhasana is one such asana, by doing which your eyesight increases. By doing this, the power inside you also increases. You should do this asana daily. (Also see: Yoga for eyes Health)

• Keep the Muscles Healthy- By doing lion yoga, your neck muscles are stretched which relaxes the neck muscles. Apart from this, this asana helps in getting rid of any infection affecting the respiratory tract. In this way you can get the benefits of throne yoga to keep the muscles healthy.

• Vocal-cords- It is good exercises the vocal-cords as such is very good for singers. and more beneficial for stutter people and nervous or introverted nature.

• Thyroid Yoga- Lion yoga is helpful in reducing or increasing weight by balancing the imbalance of thyroid glands. (Also see: Best yoga poses for thyroid gland)

Precautions

• People with weak wrists should be practice in Vajrasana Posture. don’t put your hands on the floor.
• If you have any kind of injury, you could sit on a chair and practice the pose. also, you can perform with different sitting Asanas like Padmasana (Lotus Pose).
• Do not practice this asana, if you suffer from any chronic illnesses or physical problems.

Conclusion

The practice of yoga has proved to be very necessary and effective for the complete balance of physical or mental health. There have been many wonderful changes in the lives of those who practiced Simhasana Yoga. The lion pose has a favorable effect on the respiratory system and independence. Removes all the problems related to throat and voice. Beneficial in diseases of tonsils and thyroid and stuttering go away.