What are the Benefits of Doing Padahastasana

The physical and psychological benefits of yoga are immense, and that’s why it’s becoming popular worldwide. There are more than a few thousand unique Yoga poses, but among many, the Padahastasana is one of the simplest and most effective. 

Performing Padahastasana or Hand-to-Foot pose can bring numerous benefits if practiced regularly. If you are a Yoga practitioner and want to know more about the Padahastasana, you are at the right place. In this blog post, you will learn about this unique and effective Yoga posture and include it in your daily routine. 

Benefits of Padahastasana: Improve Flexibility, Spine Strength and Reduce Anxiety

What is Padahastasana? 

The word Padahastasana is a Sanskrit word that means Foot and Hand pose when broken down. In this pose, the practitioner has to take their hands and touch them to their feet while bending forward. This is a simple yoga asana as it stretches the entire body.

If you practice the Suryanamaskara, you must know this pose. It is a part of Suryanamaskara but can be practiced as a Standalone pose to relieve stress and backache. It is not just about posture; you must maintain your breathing for the best benefits. 

How to Perform Padahastasana? 

Performing Padahastasana is one of the simplest postures. But just like other postures, you should do it properly and follow the steps. Here are the exact steps to perform a Hand-and-Foot pose.

1. First of all, stand tall with your feet together.
2. After that, inhale deeply and then stretch your arms overhead. 
3. Now, exhale and bend forward from your back while keeping your spine straight.
4. Place the palms of your hand on your feet as the Palms should face upwards.
5. You must hold your breath and maintain your posture for a few seconds or as long as possible.
6. After that, slowly release the pose and stand straight while breathing deeply.

Note – It’s advisable to perform this pose with guidance from an experienced Yoga Teacher. 

What are the Benefits of Doing Padahastasana? 

There are more than a few unique benefits of performing this Yoga posture regularly. Here are a few benefits that you can enjoy with this posture.

1 – Improved Flexibility

As this pose stretches the hamstrings. Calves and lower back muscles improve overall flexibility. If you have any muscle soreness and issues with flexibility, then this posture can help you.

2 – Strong Spine

Stretching your spine is involved in this posture; hence, it relieves the tension and improves the posture. Not just the spine, but it helps strengthen spinal muscles and helps you get rid of back pain.

3 – Improved Digestion

As you bend forward and maintain the position, it positively impacts your intestinal tract. This benefits you through improved digestion. Your digestive fire increases, your appetite increases, and your bowel movement gets smooth.

4 – Reduced Anxiety

On the psychological end, the Padahastasana promotes relaxation by calming your mind and reducing overall stress. This helps reduce tension and anxiety, which improves your state of mind.

5 – Improved Focus and Concentration

Mental clarity and focus are some of the biggest benefits of this yoga posture. As you bend forward, the blood supply to the brain increases, improving your focus and concentration daily.

Precautions to Take While Performing Padahastasana

Padahastasana is a simple and safe to perform Asana. But, it would be best to take precautions like any other Yogic posture. You must follow a few guidelines or steps before doing this, Asana.

1 – Proper Warmup

Warming up before performing this Asana is very important. Warming up helps to relax the muscles and reduces the risk of muscle strain or injury.

2 – No Medical Conditions

You should not perform this asana if you have any existing medical condition. It’s better to consult a doctor or a certified Yoga Practitioner before performing this Asana.

Final Words

Padahastasana is a simple and effective pose with many amazing benefits. Be it improving flexibility or reducing anxiety, it helps you on both the physical and psychological levels. With the Yoga Teacher Training Course at Shivalaya Yoga Ashram, you can master this pose with other poses and become a Certified Yoga Teacher. Becoming a Yoga Teacher with a globally recognized certification is very rewarding.