Yoga Posture Guide - The Salutation Pose (Anjanaya-asana)
Posture:
Anjanaya-asana - The Salutation Pose Translation: The Sanskrit word anjaneya means salutation
or praise from the root anj which means to honor, to celebrate, and to
anoint. Pronunciation: Ahn-jah-nay-ah-sa-na
Difficulty: (7)
The anjaneya-asana combines several postures and mudras
(gestures) in a fluid, evolving flow that combines motion, stretching and
holds. It delivers great benefits for the back, arms, chest, legs and hips.
Regular practice will strengthen concentration and improve balance.
Perform this posture with a sense of reverence and praise.
Take a moment to reside in silence and peace as your hands are held at the
heart in the gesture (mudra) of salutation (anjali-mudra). Keep the intention
of praise in mind as you extend your arms skyward. Feel your entire
body-mind-heart extending outward in recognition of the sacredness of
life.
Instructions:
- Sit comfortably in the vajra-asana (thunderbolt pose).
- Kneel up on your knees until your back, buttocks and thighs are aligned.
- Extend your left foot forward bending your left knee at about a 90 degree angle.
- Place the palms of your hands together at the heart in the anjali-mudra.
- Raise your arms straight up keeping the palms together while bending the head backward and looking up.
- Slowly bend backward stretching the arms backward and straightening out the right leg. Hold this position for as long as comfortable while breathing gently through the nostrils.
- Come back to the vajara-asana (thunderbolt pose) then reverse the posture by alternating legs.
Duration/Repetitions: Repeat twice on each side.
