The term Uttanasana has been derived from three words - 'Ut, which means 'intense', 'Tan, which means to stretch and extend, and 'asana', which means posture. In short, it is yoga posture that involves intense stretching of the body muscles. One of the postures of hatha yoga, Uttanasana enjoys immense popularity in the present times, one of the reasons why so many of its variations have been evolved. In this asana, you are required to start from the Tadasana pose and then hinge forward, bending at the hips and letting the head hang. Apart from stretching the legs and spine, Uttanasana is believed to calm down the mind as well as the body.

Instructions

* First of all, you need to stand in the Tadasana posture (mountain pose).
* Now, start inhaling and raise your arms, taking them over your head.
* As you exhale, start bending your hips.
* Bring your arms forward and then take them down, along with the torso, so they are touching the floor.
* Now, take your hands behind your legs and join them together.
* Remain in the position for 7-8 breaths.
* Now, bring your hands in the front and start twisting your torso upwards, pulling yourself.
* Keep your head hanging down till you are completely straight.
* Repeat the procedure 4-5 times.

Tips

* While performing Uttanasana, make sure that you do not put much pressure on any one body part. If you encounter great difficulty in bending your torso with the knees straight, bend them a bit.
* Instead of locking your hands behind the legs, you can use them to hold the ankles or even leave them on the floor, while doing the asana.

Benefits

* Uttanasana helps provide a complete stretching exercise to the entire back side of your body.
* It has been observed that this asana helps rejuvenate the spinal nerves of a person and also tones the kidneys, liver, and spleen.
* Those suffering from depression would find Uttanasana to be quite helpful, as it helps make the mind peaceful and calm.
* Practicing this asana helps improve the flexibility of various body parts, including the spine, hips, sciatic nerves, tendons and ligaments of legs.
* By soothing the brain cells, Uttanasana helps revitalize and invigorate the nervous system.
* This asana has proved to be beneficial for people suffering from anxiety. It also improves eyesight and hearing.
* Uttanasana improves blood circulation in the legs and also increases the suppleness of the hamstrings.
* This asana provides nourishment to the facial skin, scalp, and even the hair roots.

Caution

* In case you suffer from back pain or suffer from the problem of varicose veins, Uttanasana is not meant for you.