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Paripurna Navasana

February 11, 2021

This yoga pose is named after the shape it takes, the shape of the boat. Its name comes from the Sanskrit words “paripurna” which means “complete”, “whole” and the word “nava” which means "boat," and “asana”, which means "posture" or "seat.” While doing this pose the shape of the body balancing on the buttocks is thought to resemble a boat floating on the water.

India, the homeland of yoga, is a land of rivers and where are the rivers, inevitably there will be a boats crossing rivers, transporting food and assisting people on their journeys. Also along the rivers there are many holy places associated with different deities and saints. Very often there are places of pilgrimage along the river banks where people are celebrating all the riches of life: from baptising new borns to waving good bye to loved ones while they are departing from this world into a new realms of existence. Poets and philosophers are very often envisioning life in samsara (the world of senses and illusion) as the journey of a small boat across turbulent water, with God or spiritual practice as the skilful navigator who ferries us safely across. While this pose is great for working up your core muscles, try to keep in mind that in yoga, the “core” refers to more than just abs and six packs. As B.K.S. Iyengar says that “ yoga practice leads us on an inward journey from the periphery of our body to the core of our being.”

Benefits:

Strengthening the core, hip flexors and spine
Improves digestion
Stimulates kidneys, prostate, thyroid and intestines.

Step by step instructions:

Sit with your knees bent, feet on the floor. Place your hands behind your knees, lift the chest, open the shoulders, engaging the back muscles as you inhale
Engage your inner thighs and draw your lower belly in and up towards the spine
Tip back on the back of your sitting bones and lift your feet up to about knee height, toes spread out
Bring your arms parallel to the floor, palms facing inward
To go further, straighten your legs while keeping your inner tights engaged
Stay for 2-5 breaths, work up to 10 breaths
To come out of the pose, on an exhalation bring your feet down, and sit with a straight spine, holding on to your legs for a couple of breaths
Smile, make sure your neck and face muscles are relaxed.

Contraindications:

This posture is recommend to avoid if you are having headache, diarrhoea, low blood pressure, asthma,
Also be extra cautious if pregnant or menstruating

Modifications and Variations:

You can hold the backs of your thighs with your hands if that helps you keep the straight spine.
Don't be in a hurry to straighten your legs. Keeping the back straight and away from the floor is more important.
Support your back by placing your hands on the floor behind you
Use the block between your tights, squeeze it to engage inner tights.