Light on Yoga: The Bible of Modern Yoga

Effects

Y ogasanas, Bandha and Kriya 141

This posture strengthens the wrists and abdominal walls.

53· Garbha Pir:cfasana Seven* (Plate rr6)

Garbha Pil)<;fa means an embryo in the womb (garbha=womb;

pinda.. =embryo). In this variation of Padmasana, insert the hands and

arms in the space between the calves and thighs until the elbows are

bent. The arms are then bent up and the hands brought close to the

ears. The pose then resembles that of a human foetus in the womb, the

differences being that the embryo's head is down, while the legs are

up and not folded in Padmasana. The name of the posture indicates

that the ancient sages knew about the growth of the human foetus in

the mother's womb though the medical instruments at their disposal

were limited.

Technique

1. Sit in Padmasana. (Plate 104)


2. Insert the hands in the space between the thighs and calves, each
   on its own side.

3· Push the arms forwards till the elbows can be easily bent.

4· Then, with an exhalation, lift the thighs off the floor, balance the

body on the coccyx (the tail bone) and catch the ears with the

fingers. (Plate II 6)

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