Lion Pose is a fun beginner yoga pose with several unique benefits. Here’s how to do it…
Lion Pose (Simhasana) – also called Lion’s Breath Pose – is an often-overlooked yoga pose that’s fun and beneficial for kids and adults alike! Lion pose has a number of benefits, including strengthening the lungs and throat, and stimulating the tonsils and immune system. It may help to improve lung capacity, improve respiration, and reduce asthma symptoms. Some say it can even help reduce stress, anxiety, and anger, and improve confidence and self-esteem. Traditionally, this pose is associated with activation of the Throat chakra. We just think it feels good, and it helps stretch muscles in the face and jaw that don’t get stretched often.
To do the “roar,” you’ll want to breathe out with a loud “Haaaa!” while in the pose. This is what helps to release stress, so don’t hold back – let your roar sound out loud and proud! A long, loud exhale is the most effective, but feel free to play with breath and pitch and find what feels good to you.
You may place a blanket under the knees for comfort. To modify the pose if you have a wrist injury, you can also keep the palms on the knees instead of pressing them to the floor. The Lion’s Breath can also be practiced seated in a chair or sitting cross-legged if your knees or ankles can’t take the full pose.
This beginner pose is suitable for just about everyone, but if you have had recent trauma to the knees, face, neck, or throat, you may want to skip this one for now.
Here’s how to do it, from YogaBasics.com:
Instructions:
1. From a seated position with the hips on the heels and the palms resting on the knees, inhale and reach the crown of the head up to lengthen the spine.
2. As you exhale, bring the palms to the floor in front of the knees (fingers pointing forward or back), arch the spine, look up at the third eye point, stick out the tongue and roar like a lion (Haaa!) with a loud breath out of your mouth.
3. Inhale back to the starting position and repeat 2-5 times.
