Hatha Yoga: The Yoga of the Physical Body.
Chakrasana: The Wheel Pose.
Instructions.
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Lie on the back with knees bent and the heels touching the buttocks.
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The feet should be about one foot apart.
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Place the palms on the ground beside the temples, with fingers pointing towards the shoulders.
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Slowly raise the trunk.
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Let the head rotate slightly and allow the crown to support the weight of the upper body.
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The legs will form right angles at the knees.
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Straighten the arms and legs, lift the head off the ground and raise the body so that it is fully arched.
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You can straighten the knees almost completely by moving the trunk upward.
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Slowly lower yourself back to the ground and then the relaxation posture - shavasana.
Breath.
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Initially practise chakrasana with the breath retained inside.
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After some regular practice, chakrasana may be maintained for long periods by breathing normally in the fully raised position.
Duration.
- Practise chakrasana once, per yoga session, for as long as you can comfortably maintain it.
Concentration.
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Spiritual: On Manipura chakra.
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Physical: On the back, abdomen, or respiration.
Sequence.
- Always follow chakrasana with a forward bending counterpose.
Limitations.
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Chakrasana should not be practised by sufferers of high blood pressure, coronary ailments, stomach ulcers, toxic intestines, partial deafness, or dilated eye capillaries, or by anyone who has recently fractured bones or undergone abdominal operation.
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It is not to be attempted until the practitioner is able to do the preliminary backward bending poses.
Benefits.
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This asana is beneficial to the entire nervous and glandular system.
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It influences all hormonal secretions and relieves varied ailments of the female reproductive system.
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It fully stretches the back and abdominal muscles.
- It powerfully compresses and massages the abdominal organs.
Variations.
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Those adepts who can do this asana without even the slightest difficulty can improve its effect by moving the hands and feet closer together in the final position.
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They may also try raising first one leg and then the other in the final pose.
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