Matsyasana

(THE FISH POSE)

This pose is called Matsyasana because by assuming this posture and doing Plavini

Pranayama you can float like the fish on water as long as you like.

Spread a thick blanket on the ground. Sit on it with legs fully stretched in front of you. Do

Padmasana. Then lie flat on the back. Then resting the whole body on the elbows raise the trunk and

head. Pressing the head well on the ground on the one side and the buttocks on the other, make an

arch or a bridge of the trunk. Rest the hands on the thighs or catch hold of the toes the right hand

holding the left toe and the left hand the right toe.

 

Practise this Asana soon after Sarvangasana for one third of the time you devote to the latter,

if you want the maximum benefits. Sarvangasana and Matsyasana go hand in hand. They must

always be practiced one after the other. When you have finished doing this Asana, slowly release

the head with the help of the hands, sit erect and unlock the foot-lock.

 

Matsyasana gives a soothing massage to the neck and the shoulders. The stiffness of the

neck is removed. Matsyasana helps deep breathing. The cervical and upper dorsal nerves are

abundantly nourished with blood and toned up nicely. The endocrine the pituitary and the pineal

glands located in the brain are stimulated and toned. These glands play a vital part in the proper

functioning of the various systems of the human body. Matsyasana is also the destroyer of many

diseases. It cures constipation, asthma, consumption, chronic bronchitis, epilepsy, a certain type of

obesity, the evil effects of masturbation, excessive sexual indulgence and waste of seminal powers,

and is said to have cured leprosy also. It dispenses with the transplantation of monkey-thyroids to

human beings for rejuvenation. Enlargement of the spleen is cured. Lost manhood, wasted vitality

and misspent energy could be effectively regained by the assiduous practice of this posture. The

heart is also massaged and you feel new and young.