Ardha Matsyendrasana

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Front view of the pose
Rear view of the pose
Matsyendrasana.JPG

Ardha Matsyendrasana ( Sanskrit अर्ध मत्स्येन्द्रासन IAST ardha Matsyendrasana , German , Half swivel seat or rotating seat ' ) is a classic practice of yoga and part of the Rishikesh series . The Sanskrit name is formed from the words ardha "half", matsyendra , the mythical founder of Hatha Yoga as well as "Lord of the Fish" and āsana "seat" or more generally translated "posture". There are very few asana that have a name that goes back to a person.

Mythological background to Matsyendra

BKS Iyengar describes the mythological background as follows: "In the Hatha Yoga Pradipika is Matsyendra mentioned as one of the founders of Hatha Vidya. It is said that Shiva once went to a desert island to explain the secrets of yoga to his wife Parvati . A fish near the coast listened to every word with concentration and motionlessness. When Shiva realized that the fish had learned yoga, he sprinkled them with water. The fish immediately took on a divine form and became Matsyendra, the lord of fish, who later spread the wisdom of yoga. "

Physical execution

Ardha Matsyendrasana is always to be performed on both sides. The following passages each describe the rotation of the upper body to the left.

In verse 26 of the Hathapradipika , the following instructions are given for the execution: “Place the right foot on the beginning of the left thigh, place the left foot next to the right knee, then turn the upper body and the left foot with the right hand and the right Grasp the foot with the left hand, sit so that the left knee touches the back of the right upper arm [...]. "

Heinz Grill starts the execution in the heel seat. Then he continues: “Sit on the floor to the right, place your left foot over your right knee. Reach up with your arms so that your spine is also stretched. Linger in this gentle waxing process for about a minute and then lead your left hand back to the floor, your right arm in a further, sweeping motion past the outside of your left leg until you can grab your left foot. "

According to Swami Sivananda , turning is promoted when the left arm - instead of bringing the hand to the ground - is moved backwards around the back until the hand reaches the right hip and one also includes the head and "turns to the left shoulder." Swami Vishnu-Devananda , a direct disciple of Swami Sivananda, reaches with his left hand up to his right thigh. In Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga , too , which was founded by K. Pattabhi Jois , a student of T. Krishnamacharya , the left hand goes to the right hip.

For BKS Iyengar , it is important to lift your buttocks, place your left foot under it and sit on it so that the left heel is under the left buttock.

Lighter variants

André van Lysebeth , Yoga Vidya, BKS Iyengar , Heinz Grill and others recommend beginners to practice simpler variants as preparation. According to Lysebeth, a simplification for Ardha Matsyendrasana that has the same advantages as the full asana is to keep the right leg straight.

Guiding attention in the exercise

"One concentrates on the relaxation of the muscles of the spinal column and follows with the spirit the progressive rotation of the spine from the sacrum to the skull."

Attention can also be paid to the emotional significance of the swivel seat:

Mental meaning of the exercise

“The swivel seat shows the harmonious approach, how an exact work arises from a conscious thought and this is reflected in the form, that is, in a certain body gesture. The thought itself, which is at the beginning, motivates the movement, but remains free from the movement itself. This creates the image of vastness and purity in thought. "

Reports on healing effects

Erling Petersen describes the swivel seat in his yoga exercise book as one of the few exercises “that make the back flexible in an upright position. This effect is achieved by the axial rotation of the whole spine from the loin to the head. The vertical rotation prevents stiffening and wear of the spine. "

Swami Sivananda says that the swivel seat keeps the spine springy and gives the abdominal organs a powerful massage. The spinal cord nerves and the sympathetic system are also strengthened because they are well supplied with blood. " This exercise is a great help against constipation and indigestion."

Web links

Commons : Ardha Matsyendrasana  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Search results for "ardha". In: spokensanskrit.org . Retrieved April 27, 2020 .
  2. ↑ Georg Feuerstein , foreword by Ken Wilber: The Yoga tradition. History, literature, philosophy & practice. Yoga-Verlag, Wiggensbach 2008, ISBN 978-3-935001-06-9 , p. 591 .
  3. ↑ Search results for "Asana". In: spokensanskrit.org . Retrieved April 27, 2020 .
  4. ↑ a b B. KS Iyengar: Light on Yoga . 7th edition. Nikol Verlag, 2017, ISBN 978-3-86820-175-8 , pp. 236 .
  5. ↑ Hathapradipika . Hamsah-Verlag, 1992, ISBN 3-923713-35-5 , pp. 19 .
  6. ↑ Heinz Grill: The spiritualization of the body, an artistic-spiritual path with yoga . 2nd Edition. Lammers-Koll-Verlag, 2004, ISBN 3-935925-93-X , p. 116 .
  7. ↑ a b Swami Sivananda: Hatha Yoga . 4th edition. Heinrich Schwab Verlag, Gelnhausen 2015, ISBN 978-3-7964-0264-7 , p. 46 .
  8. ↑ Swami Vishnu-Devananda: The Great Illustrated Yoga Book . 6th edition. Aurum Verlag, 1997, ISBN 3-591-08183-3 , p. 163 .
  9. ^ A b André van Lysebeth: Yoga for people of today . Mosaik Verlag, TB issue no.1690, 1999, ISBN 3-442-16164-9 , p. 222 ff .
  10. ↑ Heinz Grill: The Soul Dimension of Yoga . 5th expanded edition. Lammers-Koll-Verlag, 2018, ISBN 978-3-941995-48-2 , pp. 248 .
  11. ↑ Erling Petersen: The yoga exercise book . 4th edition. Heyne Ratgeber 08/9299, 1995, ISBN 3-453-04104-6 , p. 162 .