Yoga Health Secrets

Yoga for stomach problems, kidney pains, and liver problems

When you have mastered this first stage of the Spinal Twist proceed to the next.

2. Assume the first stage of the posture which by now will be familiar to you, bat this time bend your left leg until your heel touches your right buttock. The hands should be in the same position as before. I have demonstrated the correct position in figure 49, page 151.

Again take a slow deep breath through your mouth, pause for a second holding your breath and, while exhaling, slowly turn to the right as far as you possibly can, making a slight extra effort when the lungs are completely empty. Remain thus for as long as you find comfortable, and try to exert as much pressure as possible at the height of the lateral twist. When the impulse to inhale appears do so and at the same time slowly and gracefully unwind. After a slight pause inhale again, and while exhaling turn again to the right, returning to the starting position when the impulse to inhale appears. Lie down after this and relax for a few moments, taking a few deep recovery breaths before sitting up to try stage three of the Spinal Twist.

3. In this third and final stage you assume the second pose as in figure 51 but instead of placing your left arm outside the left knee you place it inside as I have demonstrated in figure 50.

Impossible did you say? Not if you practise. Do it slowly like this. Raise your left arm, place the point of your left elbow on your right knee and very slowly glide it along the right side of the right leg until your fingertips either touch the floor or else you can grasp your ankle as in the illustration. The purpose of this last movement is to keep the muscles of the spine rigid on one side while those of the other are subjected to the lateral twist. It is this third and final movement which is the most important one though the mere altering of the position of an arm might seem, at first glance, to be of slight importance. When you can perform this exercise you will feel the enormous difference between stage 2 and stage 3 of this posture.

Having successfully assumed the correct pose at stage 3, again inhale slowly and deeply through the mouth, turn slowly to the right as you exhale, exert as much extra pressure as you can at the end of your exhalation and after holding the pose immobile for as long as you can slowly return to the starting position. Repeat the twist and then lie down on the floor and relax. When you are rested repeat all movements with legs reversed.

Complicated? Yes, I’m afraid it is at first, but once you master the movements you will find it is likely to become one of your favourite asanas. It is beautiful to look at, and when I explain the benefits of this lovely asana you will surely want to keep practising it until you can perform it to perfection. And I assure you that it looks somewhat more complicated on paper than in practice so study the illustrations carefully, one stage at a time, and check your posture before a mirror. I have known many people learn this posture in one or two lessons, but do not be discouraged if you take a little longer. Hurry is a word which is left entirely out of the Yoga vocabulary.