matsyasana

Matsyasana

Matsya – Fish; Asana – Pose

This asana is pronounced as mut-see-ahs-ana

The fish pose, if carried out in water, allows the body to float quite easily like that of a fish; hence the name.

How to do Fish Pose (Matsyasana)

1. Lie on your back. Your feet are together and hands relaxed alongside the body.
2. Place the hands underneath the hips, palms facing down. Bring the elbows closer toward each other.
3. Breathing in, lift the head and chest up.
4. Keeping the chest elevated, lower the head backward and touch the top of the head to the floor.
5. With the head lightly touching the floor, press the elbows firmly into the ground, placing the weight on the elbow and not on the head. Lift your chest up from in-between the shoulder blades. Press the thighs and legs to the floor.
6. Hold the pose for as long as you comfortably can, taking gentle long breaths in and out. Relax in the posture with every exhalation.
7. Now lift the head up, lowering the chest and head to the floor. Bring the hands back along the sides of the body. Relax.

Benefits of Fish Pose (Matsyasana)

• Stretches the chest and neck
• Helps relieve tension in the neck and shoulders
• Provides relief from respiratory disorders by encouraging deep breathing
• Tones the parathyroid, pituitary and pineal glands

Contraindications of Fish Pose (Matsyasana)

Avoid this posture if you have high or low blood pressure. Migraine and insomnia patients should also refrain from doing the Fish Pose. Those who have had serious lower-back or neck injuries are strongly recommended not to practice this pose.