How to practice Veerasana - Warrior pose

The meaning of "veera" in Sanskrit is 'Warrior'.  The body assumes the position of a warrior before attacking in this asana, hence the name Veerasana or Warrior pose.  The Veerasana is very good for spinal cord health because the spinal cord is stretched in the opposite direction its elasticity increases.  The muscles at the hips, knees and thighs are stretched well.  There will be improved flexibility in the shoulders too.  

The Veerasana also improves the strength in the ankles, legs and back.  The muscles in the abdominal region are stretched well, so they will tone the organs in this region.  Here is a step by step instructions to practice Veerasana.

Steps to practice Veerasana

• Stand straight in Tadasana.  with legs joined together and arms by the sides.
• Now stretch your left leg and place it on front while exhaling
• Slowly bend the left leg at the knee so as to form a right angle between the thigh and calf
• Now join the palms of your hands and place them on the knee
• Please keep the right leg straight
• Raise your both hands above your head while inhaling
• Stretch your arms further up
• Now bend the upper part of your body backwards
• The inner side of upper arms should be touching the ears
• Bend your neck and head downwards by balancing your body
• Try to increase the curvature of the body to the maximum limit possible
• Gaze up
• The right leg should not bend and the sole of both feet should be on the ground
• Stay in this posture till feet get strained
• Now exhale slowly and straighten your trunk
• Inhale and bring the hands down on the kneew
• Return left foot to the original position aligned with the right foot, as you exhale
• Relax and perform the same with your right leg stretched forward

Caution :

• Do not try to overdo the asana if you are a beginner.
• Losing the balance may lead to injuries.. be careful
• Do not perform this yoga asana if you suffer form shoulder or neck problems

Benefits of Veerasana

Here are some of the benefits of practicing veerasana.

• The shoulder, arms and legs gain strength
• Thighs get extended and get toned
• The spine gets flexible by practicing Veerasana 

Here is a video showing how to practice Veerasana.

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