Paschimottanasana (pash-ee-moh-tan-ahs-anna; Sanskrit: पश्चिमोत्तानासन; IAST: paścimottānāsana), Seated Forward Bend or Intense Dorsal Stretch is an asana.
Together with Padmasana (lotus), Siddhasana (half-lotus) and Vajrasana (lightning-bolt pose), this asana is an accomplished asana according to the Shiva Samhita. It was advocated by 11th-century yogi Gorakshanath.

The name comes from the Sanskrit words paschima (पश्चिम, paścima) meaning “west” or “back” or “back of body” and uttana (उत्तान, uttāna) meaning “intense stretch” or “straight” or “extended” and asana (आसन) meaning “posture” or “seat”.

The yogi sits on the floor with legs flat on the floor, straight ahead then bends forward from the hips to bring the trunk parallel with the legs
A similar frontbend is Uttanasana (a standing front bend). Paschimottanasana enables much easier rotation inward or outward of the legs, abducting or adducting them at the hip, flexing or extending the knees, or enacting plantar or dorsi flexion of the ankle. These variations can be performed either as a combined stretch, to change the emphasis on different tissues, or simply to take the mind off the hamstrings and lower backstretch. They can be used rhythmically to aid in relaxation.

Step by Step:-

  • Sit up straight with your legs together, stretched out in front of you. Point both feet straight up towards the ceiling.
  • Be sure you are sitting straight up on the sit bones with your spine straight. Many people benefit at this point by removing the flesh from underneath the sit bones so as to help remove curvature in the spine.
  • Inhale, and stretch your arms up over your head. Following the direction of your hands, at the same time lengthen the entire spine upwards.
  • Exhale and bend forward from the hips keeping your spine as elongated as possible and reaching towards your feet with your hands as you come down.
  • If you can reach your feet, the ideal hand position is to wrap your index fingers around the big toes, with the thumbs resting on tops of the big toes.
  • If you cannot reach your feet yet, let your hands fall comfortably on top of the shins or thighs, or alongside the legs on the floor, or wherever they can comfortably rest.
  • For this posture, try to avoid a lot of curvature in the middle part of the spine. It is best to keep the back more straight, although not rigid, and bend from the hip area.
  • Be sure to keep the feet pointed straight up towards the ceiling and together.
  • Once in position, you can gently pull with the arms on the feet or legs, stretching the head more towards the feet and giving an additional stretch to the spine and backs of the legs.
  • As you continue to hold the posture, relax as much as possible, especially in the shoulders and hips. With each exhale let your breath do the work – ideally the abdomen should fall closer toward the thighs, the chest toward the knees and the head towards the feet.
  • Hold the asana for 30 seconds at first and work up to 5 minutes or more.

To come out of the seated forward bend, inhale and stretch your hands past your feet, come up with a flat back stretching your arms and spine up as your body comes up. Exhale and relax the arms down.

Contra-indications:-

Because in the West we tend to sit on soft, comfortable furniture, this deceptively easy-looking asana can take a long time to perfect. The muscles of the hips and backs of the legs are very powerful and can take a while to loosen before one can come fully into this pose. However, you can get the proper benefits of the posture by holding as still as possible at whatever stage you are at, with the understanding that with regular practice over time you will be able to make significant progress in this asana.

Physical Benefits:-

  • Stretches the hamstrings on the back of the legs
  • Stretches and lengthens the entire spine
  • Massages the internal organs, especially the digestive organs
  • Relieves digestive problems such as constipation
  • Relieves problems with sciatica
  • Invigorates the nervous system
  • Energetic (Pranic) Benefits
  • Stimulates manipura chakra (solar plexus center)
  • Balances the prana within the body
  • Mental Benefits
  • Calms the mind
  • Improves concentration

“This most excellent of all asanas, Paschimottanasana, makes the breath flow through the Sushumna, rouses the gastric fire, makes the loins lean, and removes all diseases.”
Hatha Yoga Pradipika,
Chapter 1, verse 29

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