Ardh-Matsyendrasana-(The Twist Posture)

This is one of the basic yoga poses. It takes its name in Sanskrit from the great Hath Yoga sage Matsyendra. It is a beautiful posture. When executed correctly, you will feel like a peacock majestically unfolding his large, colorful fan.

Technique-

Place the lefi heel near the anus and below the scrotum. It can touch the perennial space. Do not allow the heel to move from this space.

• Bend the knee and place the right ankle at the root of the left thigh and rest the right foot well on the ground close to the left hipjoint.

• Place the left armpit over the top of the vertically bent right knee.

• Push the knee now a little to the back so that it touches the back part of the armpit

• Catch hold of the left foot with left palm. Then applying pressure at the left shoulder- joint, slowly twist the spine and turn to the extreme right.

• Turn the face also to the right as much as you can do. Bring it in a line with the right shoulder.

• Swing round the right arm towards the back.Catch hold of the left thigh with the right hand                                                                                                                           
• Retain the pose from 5 to 15 seconds. Keep the vertebral column erect. Do not bend.

• After the exercise, lie down and relax. When your breathing has returned to normal, take a few deep breaths

•  After words, have practice by allowing twist of the spine to the left side.

Benefits

1. This is the only asana that twists the spine. The other asanas stretch the spine in the flexion (forwards) and extension (backwards). For example where. Paschimottanasana and Halasana bend the spine forwards, the counter poses like Dhanur, Bhujanga and Salabha Asanas bend the spine backwards. The twist provided by this asana, completes the stretching of the spine so that now every muscle and ligament of the back and neck get stretched in all directions.

2. It keeps the spine elastic and helps it in gaining its strength and vitality.

3. It gives a good massage to the abdominal organs and the muscles of the waist.

4. This Asana increases appetite by increasing the digestive fire.

5. It helps in providing strength and vitality to the digestive organs, especially the pancreas and the liver

6. The twist benefits the adrenal glands, kidneys, liver and spleen.

7. It helps in toning up the lungs and heart

8. It also helps in toning the spinal nerve-roots and sympathetic system by drawing a good supply of blood.

9. It helps in the awakening of Kundalini

10. It helps in preventing and curing a number of ailments and disorders in the manner given below-

•  It helps in the prevention and cure of asthma, indigestion, constipation, and obesity.

•   It corrects stooping shoulders, a bent back, and defective posture.

• It helps in the treatment of Lumbago and all sorts of muscular rheumatism of the back-muscles.

•  It helps in the prevention and cure of diabetes

• It can also help in the cure of intestine infection especially in getting rid of the stomach germs.