Posterior Stretch

Home | Contact | Links | Yoga Classes | Announcement

Posterior Stretch / Paschimottanasana

by Sri Swami Sivananda
of The Divine Life Society

It reduces fat in the abdomen. It is a specific for corpulence or obesity, and for the enlargement of spleen and liver. It stimulates the abdominal viscera such as kidneys, liver, and pancreas. It increases the peristalsis of the bowels and relieves constipation. It removes sluggishness of liver, dyspepsia, belching and gastritis. Lumbago or stiff back and all sorts of myalgia and other diseases of the back muscles are cured. This posture cures piles and diabetes also. The hip muscles of the abdomen, solar plexus of nerves, the epigastric plexus of nerves, bladder, prostrate, lumbar nerves and sympathetic cord are all toned up and kept in a healthy sound condition.

In the beginning, retain the pose for 5 seconds; then, gradually increase the period to 10 minutes.