SAGE KOUNDINYA I POSE

Eka Pada Koundinyasana (EY-kuh Pah-duh kown-din-YAHS-ah-nuh)

BENEFITS OF SAGE KOUNDINYA I POSE

  • Strengthens the spine, arms and wrists
  • Massages and tones the abdominal organs
  • Increases core strength
  • Improves digestion

SUMMARY OF SAGE KOUNDINYA I POSE

Pose Dedicated to the Sage Koundinya I, or Eka Pada Koundiyasana, is a challenging arm balance and twist pose that requires trust and commitment. It may seem challenging and sometimes too much to handle at first, but it’s actually one of the first few arm balances that a yogi can try and successfully achieve. It may also look like it demands a certain amount of upper-body strength, but the truth is, your sole focus should be on finding your balance.

SAGE KOUNDINYA I POSE TUTORIAL

Pose Dedicated to the Sage Koundinya I (Eka Pada Koundinyasana) - Yoga Pose

1.) Begin kneeling on your mat.

Pose Dedicated to the Sage Koundinya I (Eka Pada Koundinyasana) - Yoga Pose

2.) Place your hands on the mat in front of you.

Pose Dedicated to the Sage Koundinya I (Eka Pada Koundinyasana) - Yoga Pose

3.) Lift your hips up, press your heels back, and come into Downward Facing Dog.

Pose Dedicated to the Sage Koundinya I (Eka Pada Koundinyasana) - Yoga Pose

4.) Bend your arms and lower your body down, bringing your left leg forward so that it is against your left back upper arm. Find a grip here and then begin to lift your back leg.

Pose Dedicated to the Sage Koundinya I (Eka Pada Koundinyasana) - Yoga Pose

5.) Shift your weight forward and balance here for as long as you can.

Pose Dedicated to the Sage Koundinya I (Eka Pada Koundinyasana) - Yoga Pose

6.) To release from the pose, simply place your feet back on the ground.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF SAGE KOUNDINYA I POSE

POSE DEDICATED TO THE SAGE KOUNDINYA I FOR STRENGTH

Pose Dedicated to the Sage Koundinya I is not only beneficial to your flexibility and balance, but it goes beyond that to help strengthen your arms and wrists, as well as rejuvenating your spine.

POSE DEDICATED TO THE SAGE KOUNDINYA I FOR DIGESTION

Yoga school advocate, B .K.S Iyengar claimed that Koundinyasana massages and tones the abdominal organs, which can help improve digestion. He also believed that it can eliminate toxins by encouraging movements in the colon.

POSE DEDICATED TO THE SAGE KOUNDINYA I FOR CORE

This pose generally works on the strength of your whole body; it can help tone it by burning fat and focusing more on your stomach. It can also strengthen your core muscles, giving you a strong, flexible back over time.

Contraindications & Cautions

  • Wrist or low back injury
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Pregnancy
  • Menstrual cycle

Modifications & Deepening the Pose

POSE DEDICATED TO THE SAGE KOUNDINYA I FOR BEGINNERS

As a beginner, it will be difficult at first to maintain your balance. If that’s the case, you can support your side leg on a bolster and/or your back leg on a chair seat.