Veerasana - Philosopher’s Pose
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali are a series of philosophical talking points that have served as a spring board for the practice of Yoga for several hundred years. Patanjali’s second Yoga Sutra states, “Yoga is the restraint of the fluctuations of consciousness.” That is to say: Yoga is how we learn to control our minds. It is by learning to control the mind that the Yogi can free themselves from undo suffering. Most of our day to day suffering, what we usually call stress, is created by the mind out of control. A busy mind gets little accomplished. This is probably a key reason why Yoga is so effective at improving lives in the modern world. Veerasana, Philosopher’s Pose, is great to practice when taming the wild activity of an untrained mind. It can be very useful for calming the thoughts while remaining alert and focused.
What To Do
- Sit on your knees with the toes touching but the heels separated.
- Rest the hips on the inner surface of the feet.
- Bring the right foot forward and place it on the floor next to the left knee.
- Place the right elbow on the right knee and gently rest the chin in the palm of the right hand.
- Close the eyes, or focus the gaze on a single point.
- Settle into total stillness.
- Focus on the alignment of the spine and the breath moving in and out.
- Stay for at least two minutes.
- Come out of the pose and sit with the legs extended for a few breaths.
- Then do the other side.
Modifications
- Sit on a folded blanket to help cushion the knees and ankles.
- Sit on a block or book to elevate the hips if the knees or hips are tight and painful.
Benefits
- Clarifies the thinking.
- Relaxes the body and mind.
- Helps to nourish the legs and hips.
