Hanumanasana: the amalgamation of the myth with the practice

Many poses – – have an elaborate story behind them. Teacher

Mayank Dhingra details the story of k c

Hanuman and the challengers he defeated o t

on his journey to Lanka in search of Sita rs utte : sh s e WORDS: DHINGRA. MAYANK imag

44 | yoga life | september 2013 pose

The myth to go back and reclaim his shadow. without being angled out to the side. In the epic Ramayana, is As he flew towards Simhika, she The centre of that kneecap should tasked with searching for Sita in opened her mouth to grab him. press on to the floor. Lanka. Hanumanasana symbolises his Hanuman reduced his size, went 6. Depending on your flexibility, your giant leap from the southern shore of inside Simhaka’s mouth and came thighs could now be in contact with India to Lanka to achieve this goal. back out, slashing her vital organs. the floor and you could either stretch To travel through the skies quickly, He was then able to continue his your hands straight up (towards the Hanuman, who could increase his size journey without further incident ceiling) or bring them together in the at will, assumed a body of immense and reach Lanka. anjali (salutation seal). proportions. So great was the 7. Hold this pose for around a minute momentum of his leap that he carried The practice before releasing it. To do so, press trees in full blossom, which were 1. Start in with your your hands on to the floor and turn uprooted by the force. Covered with right foot in front. Slowly straighten the front leg out slightly. blossoms, buds and sprouts, Hanuman the right leg out in front of you. 8. Repeat the pose on the other side. resembled a mountain. Soon the trees 2. E xhale and bending forward, following Hanuman and the blossoms press your fingertips to the floor. Incorporating fell off into the sea making the ocean 3. Pick your left knee off the floor and the myth into look even more beautiful. the practice Seeing Hanuman flying From anjaneyasana as we across the ocean, the king of straighten the leading leg the ocean asked Mainaka the and feel the first stretch to Mountain to offer Hanuman the hamstrings, it is tempting a place to rest. But Hanuman to stay there and go no had vowed not to rest until further since the rear leg is he reached Lanka. providing necessary stability The devas [demi-Gods] and comfort – similar to were very impressed with how Hanuman’s journey was Hanuman’s commitment interrupted by Mainaka who but decided to test offered him a place to rest his determination for and tempted him with fresh themselves. They asked fruit and food. But just as Surasa, the Mother of all Hanuman brushed away the Serpents, to take a dreadful offer and stayed on course the form of female Rakshasa practitioner has to continue and eat Hanuman. She tried, despite the discomfort. opening her mouth wide, As you lift the left knee but Hanuman immediately off the floor, you encounter doubled his size. Surasa your first ‘monster’ and you in turn increased her size. realise muscling your way Then Hanuman increased through will only lead to his size. Finally when injury. You need to use your Surasa increased her Hanuman had the power to increase his size at will and used intuitive intelligence and, just this ability to complete his task of finding Sita in Lanka. mouth size to accommodate as Hanuman shrunk himself, you a Hanuman of 90 yojanas, he swiftly take the left leg backwards. Just need to make micro-adjustments to shrunk himself to a size as small as a before you feel you have reached overcome this obstacle. thumb and flew into her mouth and the limit of your stretch, stop To complete the journey, your away. Surasa was very impressed straightening your left knee. thighs have to meet their shadows with Hanuman’s intelligent handling 4. Inhale and breathe into the reflected below, just as Hanuman had of the situation and gave her hamstrings in the right leg and soften to reclaim his shadow from Simhika. blessings for his journey ahead. the quadriceps in the left leg. Exhale This last obstacle is the trickiest to As Hanuman continued he and carefully drop the front of the overcome and requires patience and suddenly felt he was being dragged left thigh, along with the back of further micro-adjustments. Once the down. He was being attacked by the the right thigh towards the ground. practitioner has mastered this last demon Simhika who had the power The centre of your right knee should hurdle he/she can continue with to hold one by his shadow. Hanuman point directly towards the ceiling. relative ease and raise the hands off thought of trying to fly away, but 5. E nsure your back leg is extended the floor to complete the ‘journey’. soon realised that he would have straight out behind, from the hip, To learn more visit www.yogasmriti.com

september 2013 | yoga life | 45