Oordhwa Pada Hastasana

Oordhwa Pada Hastasana Lifting of the foot and hand

In Sanskrit term, ‘Oordha’ means ‘lifted’; ‘Pada’ refers to ‘foot’ and ‘Hasta’ means hand’.

While performing Oordhwa Pada Hastasana the practitioner needs to touch the raised feet.

Methodology

• Remain flat on your back.
• Stretch out your legs in front.
• Keep the legs together.
• Keep your palms on the thighs.
• Your fingers will be pointing to the toes.
• The knees must be kept stiff.
• Gently breathe.
• Simultaneously lift up your legs, trunk, shoulders, neck and head.
• Don’t bend the elbows or the knees.
• The toes must be pointing outwards.
• During this action, slide down the palms along the thighs.
• Keep the arms over the thighs and they should remain totally stretched.
• The legs must be at an angle of 60 degrees to the ground.
• Bend the trunk and the head further forwards without changing the position of the legs.
• Reach out and touch the ankles with the finger tips.
• The entire body weight must be balanced on your posterior.
• Keep your eyes focused on the toes.
• Remain in this position as long as you are comfortable.
• Keep on breathing gently.
• While breathing slowly, return to the starting position.

Advantages

• The abdominal organs are toned up.
• Your solar plexus will be strengthened.
• The muscles at the rear portions of the knees as well as the hamstring tendons are exercised.
• Your pelvic region, hips, and the lower back will become suppler.
• The uterus remains healthy.
• The feet, calves, knees, thighs, posterior, arms, diaphragm, shoulders and the neck are simultaneously exercised.