Today’s Poses:  Fire Log and Reclining Bound Angle Pose

Fire Log and Reclining Bound Angle Pose

Fire Log and Reclining Bound Angle Pose offer numerous benefits. Try this with our Guided Yoga Video series.

Fire Log Pose

The Fire Log Pose stretches the outer hips intensely, particularly the piriformis, which is often the main culprit of sciatic pain.

Agnistambhasana (fire log pose) is a yoga asana named primarily after fire, and with its practice, we can come to know the light of an egoless mind. is a beginner level posture which guarantees a sense of calmness along with several other benefits.

Steps 

• Sit in an Easy Cross-legged Pose, with your back and torso upright.
• Bring your right ankle over your left knee.
• Make sure that your right foot is in contact with the outside of your left knee.
• Slip your left ankle under your right knee, so that your shins are one on top of the other.
• Flex both of your feet.
• Inhale and straighten your spine by bringing your torso up so that you are sitting straight on the sit bones.
• Upon exhaling, relax and bring the hips down.
• Maintain this posture for at least 1 minute.
• Inhale, keep your back straight and uncross your legs to come out of the pose.
• Repeat for the same amount of time with the left leg.

Benefits

• It avails a deep opening in the outer hips
• Strengthening of the legs and hips is guaranteed
• It massages and vivifies the abdominal organs including the large intestine, kidneys, pancreas, and liver
• It gently stretches the buttocks and groin
• It provides relief from lower back pain
• It curtails anxiety and tension and calms your mind.
• Encourages introspection once you can fold forward over the knees
• It opens up the second Chakra, Swadhistana, which is associated to your sexual and creative energy, and its proper expression.
• It controls the health of the hips, sacrum, lower back, and kidneys.
• Consistent practice of this asana will allow much more advanced hip openers to be more obtainable in your future practice.

Reclining Bound Angle Pose

Reclining Bound Angle Pose is a deeply relaxing yoga position that is recommended for students of all levels.

Steps

1. Gently recline the body, lowering your torso all the way to the ground. Use your hands to shift your buttocks and release your lower back onto the mat.
2. As you inhale, bend your knees and draw your feet together on the mat. Bring your heels in toward your groin.
3. Exhale and let your knees fall out to the sides, toward the ground. Allow the soles of your feet to join and the outer edges of your feet to rest on the mat. Rotate your thighs externally by using your hands to shift the outer thighs away from the sides of your torso.
4. With your next inhale, draw your hands overhead to open the chest and stretch the abdominals.
5. As you exhale, soften the elbows and melt the shoulders away from your ears.
6. Hold this pose for 30 seconds to a minute.
7. To exit, inhale, and draw the knees toward the midline. Exhale and relax your legs to the mat, or draw knees into the chest.

Benefits

• Lowered blood pressure
• A decreased heart rate
• Decreased muscle tension
• Reduced occurrence of headaches
• Relief from fatigue and insomnia
• Reduced nervous tension and stress
• Relief from anxiety and panic attacks
• Increased overall energy levels