I have recently felt myself drawn to something like simhasana (lion pose) as an automatic yoga, so I tried doing it intentionally, somewhat as described in this link, with the added element of also opening my jaw as much as possible. It feels very powerful to me as a means purify the heart and throat areas. Just a recommendation some might like to consider, though I don’t think I have seen it addressed explicitly in AYP? (Perhaps the closest would be “heart breathing”?)
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Hi tamasaburo,
Devrim is currently in the process of filming a second online video course on asana practice. It will include 84 traditional asanas. Lion pose is actually one of the oldest classical yoga asanas that has been recorded, dating back to around the 4th century CE. So, I would be surprised if it is not in the course. When it is finished it will be available here. It could be available later this year (end of 2025). It will be in addition to the 21-day AYP Yoga Asana Online Video Course.
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Hi Tristan,
Thanks for the message. Interesting to learn that lion pose is one of the oldest recorded asanas.
What made me think of it recently was I was experiencing a lot of flexing of the neck muscles, presumably as a result of energy friction in the throat area, and had also noticed that a lot of the energetic aspect of kechari seemed to be the act of flexing or extending the tongue itself, in addition to the stimulation of the nasal tissues. This led me to try sticking my tongue out as much as possible and to remember lion pose, which I recalled had that feature. I notice also that when I perform it with a slight arch in the back and kneeling knees apart as in the photo it creates an additional connection through the abdomen, like uddiyana or nauli. Combined with shambhavi and opening the mouth as wide as possible, with or without a soft “haa” sound, it feels very powerful.
Presumably this kind of experiment based on automatic yogas led the early yogis to develop this asana.
It also suggests to me something I’ve noticed about asanas in general: although relaxing tension in the muscles is probably part of their effect, it seems like a lot of their power comes not from “stretching” per se, but rather the conscious extension of body parts, which seems to activate the energy channels, as extending the tongue in kechari or the eyes in shambhavi do.
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Hi Casey,
Yes, the main purpose of asana practice is to activate the subtle energy channels and chakras in the body. This happens through stretching the channels and through small movements of the muscles of the eyes, tongue, and the muscles in the pelvis and lower abdomen. Inverting the body also has an effect on purifying the energy channels. I filmed a short video covering the various ways in which asana practice purifies the subtle neurobiology. That is here.
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Hello again tamasaburo. Lions mudra is one of my favorites, especially since achieving Ketchari 2+, indeed the throat chakra immediately opens and responds. I was inspired to try it from depictions of Kali before I realized it was an actual mudra. There is something about the “silliness” of it that adds to the experience, I am a firm believer in attending to yoga poses with the playfulness of our younger selves.
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