Ushtrasana – The Camel Pose(Power Yoga Pose)

Ushtrasana – The Camel Pose

Ushtrasana or the Camel Yoga Pose is one of the backward bending Yoga asanas for strengthening the back and spine. This is thirty-sixth Power Yoga Pose. In Sanskrit, Ushtra means a camel and Asana means a pose. It is a good posture for developing flexibility of the spine and neck.

How to do Ushtrasana (The Camel Pose)?

1. Kneel down and sit on your heels. Keep the knees and heels slightly apart.
2. Now raise yourself up on the knees.
3. Stretch your hands backward and slowly bend your head and back with chin raised. You can place your hands on either side of the hips. Stabilize yourself in this mid-position.
4. Now, continue the stretch till your hands reach down and you can feel the heels of your feet. Rest your hands on the heels. Make sure your chest is expanded and the neck is flexed backward with a gaze towards the sky.
5. Remain in this position for as much as you are comfortable. You may go from 30 seconds to 3 minutes depending on your comfort level.
6. To release the position, inhale and come back to the kneeling position. During the return, beginners should be careful not to lose your balance and fall.
7. Once in the kneeling position, you can rest in Shashankasana or the Hare Pose for some time.

Benefits 

1. This asana gives a good stretch to the back, chest, hips, groins and neck muscles and is helpful for back pains, stooping shoulders and also for correcting postural defects of the spine.
2. It tones the digestive, excretory and reproductive organs.
3. Ushtrasana improves the flexibility of the spine.
4. Expands the chest and improves lung capacity.