Kukkut Asana
Kukkut is a Sanskrit word which means a cock. This
aasan or posture resembles that of a cock and hence the name
is Kukkut Aasan.
| Technique |
Sit in
Padmasana with legs crossed. Insert the hands through
the gap between the thighs and calves near the knees.
Start with the fingers and gradually push the hands upto
elbows. Inhale and raise the body off the floor. Then
continue normal breathing. Legs should be raised off the
floor unto the level of elbows. Hands can easily be inserted
in the gap if the Padmasan position is slightly raised.
Pot-bellied persons will find it difficult to insert the
hands in the gap between the calves and the thighs. In
the beginning remain in this position for ten seconds
and gradually increase the time to a minute depending
on age and ability
to aspirant. |
| Advantages |
•
All the benefits derived from Utthita Padmasan are derived
from this aasan.
• This aasan is beneficial
to those who have worms in their intestines.
• This aasan is very
useful to woman as it cures uneasiness,
pain in the hips and heaviness caused by menstruation.
• This aasan gives sufficient
exercise to the arms.
• This aasan invigorates
the body and delights the mind. |
Garbh aasana
When this aasan is performed, the pose achieved resembles
that of a human foetus in the womb. So this aasan is called
garbh aasan.
| Technique |
| As in Kukkut Aasan,
insert the hands between the thighs and the calves. Push
the arms forward till the elbows can be easily bent. Then
hold the lobe of the right ear with the right hand and
of the left ear with the left hand. Stay in this position
very cautiously to avoid tumbling. The constant practise
of this aasan will enable you to balance the body on the
coccyx (the tail bone). If aspirants experience difficulty
in performing this aasan in Padmasan position, it should
be practiced without Padmasan. While performing this aasan,
let the legs be stretched on the floor. This aasan should
be formed 8 to 10 seconds in the beginning. Later the
time of the retention of the aasan can be increased to
one minute depending on age and ability of the aspirants
and benefits expected. |
| Advantages |
•
This aasan helps to cure diseases like colic pain,
flatulence, enteritis, chronic fever, constipation, etc.
• This aasan keeps the
abdominal organs trim. It cures gas trouble and increases
the digestive power.
• The abdominal organs,
the breast and the joints of the arms and the legs get
sufficient exercise through this aasan and their ailments
disappear.
• This aasan helps to
preserve the semen and the mind begins to have communion
with the Aatama (self). |
Some Yoga centres
Astanga Yoga Nilayam 876 1st Cross, Lakshmipuram, Mysore,
Karnataka 570 004. This centre is run by Pattabhi Jois, courses
last at least a month and need to be booked in advance. The
great yoga master Sri Tirumalai Krisnamacharya taught here
until his death in 1989.
International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON)
3c Albert Road, Calcutta (tel 033/247 8242). It involves regular
trips to the major ISKCON site in Mayapur, north of Calcutta
in West Bengal.
Osho Commune International 17 Koregaon Park, Pune,
Maharashtra 411 001 (tel 0212/628562, fax 628566, cc.osho@oci.sprintrpg.ems.vsnl.net.in).
The centre, established by Osho who generated a huge following
of both Western and Indian devotees, is set in 31 acres of
beautifully landscaped gardens and offers a variety of courses
in personal therapy, healing and meditation.
Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Dhanwanthari Ashram, Neyyar
Dam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. (yogaIndia@sivananda.org).
This is a yoga-based ashram where yoga postures (asanas),
breathing techniques (pranayama) and meditation are taught.
They also run teacher training programmes. There are two other
Sivananda ashrams in India: Sivananda Kutir (near Siror bridge),
Netala, Uttar Kashi, Uttar Pradesh, and Sivananda Guha, Gangotri,Uttar
Kashi Dist, Uttar Pradesh. Both are in the Himalayas.
Tushita Meditation Centre McLeod Ganj, Dharamsala, Himachal
Pradesh. This centre offers a range of Tibetan meditation
courses. A ten-day course costs in the region of Rs 3500.
Vipassana International Academy Dhamma Giri, PO Box 6,
Igatpuri, Nasik, Maharashtra 422 403 (tel 2553/84076). This
is the main centre for Vipassana in India.
For further details :
http://www.appuonline.com/india.directory/Society_and_Culture/
Religion_and_Spirituality/Hinduism/Yoga/Centers/
http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/Falls/7081/index.html
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/6709/page2.html
.a blissful retreat
 All
said and done, even though the advantages of yoga have been
proved time and again, it is indeed disheartening that few
doctors prescribe yoga and meditation. Doctors prefer surgery
and medication and patients too prefer popping pills to devoting
a few hours a week to yoga. Have you ever thought why is it
so? Why have so few US studies tested the efficacy of yoga?
An article by Richard Corliss is a recent edition of the Time
magazine, very aptly sums up the main reasons. ".Those sympathetic
to yoga think the benefits are proved by millenniums of empirical
evidence in India; those who are suspicious think it can't
be proved. It's effects on the body and mind are so complex
and pervasive that it would be nearly impossible to certify
any specific changes in the body to yoga." Today, when our
world is full of noise, agitation, stress and anxiety, we
need yoga more than anything else. It is an escape to serenity,
peace and self-realisation. Why think of what it can do for
you, whether it will cure you of your backache, whether you
can get rid of the stubborn beer belly? Just forget everything
else, close your eyes, relax.and let the magic happen. It
is bliss in true sense.
Source: Times, July 16, 2001-08-16
www.yogasite.com
www.yogagroup.org
www.yoga.com
www.iyengar-yoga.com
Picture courtesy: Time, July 16, 2001
- Shravanti Choudhuri
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