"The breath plays an important part here. If the breath is held, a hardness pervades the abdomen and disallows what Iyengar considers the full benefits to the internal organs. It is therefore important to keep the abdomen as relaxed as possible, and the breath moving and soft. Although it is difficult to breathe as deeply when in the pose as you might if you were just sitting, the breath nonetheless should be as relaxed as possible."
"The muscles of the anterior (front) hip are also active, as are the quadriceps which keep the knee straight against the downward pull of gravity. The muscles in the front of the neck must also work hard to maintain the upright position of the head. In addition to the action of the muscles, the abdominal organs are stimulated by the pose."
Navasana, or Boat Pose, strengthens the abdomen while demanding significant contribution from the legs and back. The pose requires coordinated action of abdominal and spinal extensor muscles to keep the back straight rather than arched or collapsed. Anterior hip muscles, quadriceps, and neck extensors assist to maintain lifted legs and head. The posture also stimulates the abdominal organs. Breath management is essential: breath holding creates abdominal tension and reduces internal benefits, so the abdomen must stay relaxed and the breath soft and moving, even though full depth is harder to achieve in the pose. The posture demands physical effort and mental focus.
Read at Yoga Journal
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]