Yoga Pose of the Week: Wind-Relieving Pose

Wind-Relieving Pose (Pawanmuktasana)

Wind-relieving pose, as its name suggests, is excellent for releasing abdominal gas. If gas is a chronic issue, you may need to make changes to your diet, or even to the way you eat.

How to do Wind-Relieving Pose (Pawanmuktasana)

 

• Lie on your back with your feet together and arms beside your body.
• Breathe in and as you exhale, bring your right knee towards your chest and press the thigh on your abdomen with clasped hands.
• Breathe in again and as you exhale, lift your head and chest off the floor and touch your chin to your right knee.
• Hold it there, as you take deep, long breaths in and out.

Checkpoint: As you exhale, tighten the grip of the hands on the knee and increase the pressure on the chest. As you
inhale, loosen the grip. 

• As you exhale, come back to the ground and relax.
• Repeat this pose with the left leg and then with both the legs together.
• You may rock up and down or roll from side to side 3-5 times and then relax. 

 

Benefits of the Wind-Relieving Pose (Pawanmuktasana)

• Strengthens the back and abdominal muscles
• Tones the leg and arm muscles
• Massages the intestines and other organs in the abdomen
• Helps in digestion and release of gas
• Enhances blood circulation in the hip joints and eases tension in the lower back

Contraindications of the Wind-Relieving Pose (Pawanmuktasana)

• Avoid practicing Wind-Relieving Pose (Pawanmuktasana) if you are facing the following health issues: high blood pressure, heart problem, hyperacidity, hernia, slip disc, testicle disorder, menstruation, neck and back problems, and after the second trimester of pregnancy.