Cobra pose, also known as bhujangasana, is a common yoga pose that stretches and strengthens the back, shoulders, and neck muscles.
Cobra pose offers numerous health benefits, including reducing inflammation, depression, and spinal issues. Discover the right way to do this pose and how it can benefit your body.
Steps to Perform the Correct Cobra Pose
- Lie on your back on a yoga mat or flat surface
- Place the feet together with the front of the feet touching the mat and the toes pointing backward
- Place the hands at the sides of the body with the palms facing down and placed next to the shoulders
- Position the elbows by placing them close to the body and bringing the elbows close to the body.
- Slowly lift the head and chest off the mat and keep the base of the pelvis in contact with the mat.
- At the same time, straighten your arms by extending your elbows and lifting your chest higher. Pay attention to keeping the shoulders relaxed and not bending toward the ears
- Keep your eyes forward or slightly upward, without putting weight on your neck.
It is important to remember that while doing cobra poses, you should be careful and not overexert yourself. If you have a back injury or other health issues, it is advisable to consult a yoga instructor or health professional before performing this pose.
Read more: Getting To Know Yoga's Aerials And Their Benefits For The Body
Benefits of cobra pose for the body
Cobra pose has many benefits for the body, such as:
Reduces symptoms of depression
Yoga is a natural way of increasing serotonin production which plays a role in the treatment of depression. People with depression tend to have low serotonin levels. Serotonin is believed to play a major role in feelings of happiness.
According to research, practicing sustained cobra pose contributes to the improvement of depression symptoms.
Relieves lower back pain
Many different conditions can cause lower back pain. The pain can range from mild to severe.
Rest and regular practice of cobra position can help relieve mild lower back pain.
Read more: Back Pain While Waking Up? This Is The Cause And How To Overcome It
Reduces inflammation
Yoga has been known to have positive effects in reducing inflammation and helping manage chronic health conditions. Doing a 90-minute yoga class, including cobra pose, twice a week for 12 weeks can significantly reduce inflammation, especially if done regularly and with proper supervision.
The movements and stretches in yoga can help improve blood circulation, including lymphatic flow. This helps bring nutrients to the body's cells and remove byproducts of the inflammatory process.
Improves sleep quality
Yoga combines meditative movements that focus on breathing and physical exercise. One of the benefits of these movements is improved sleep when practiced regularly.
Yoga helps regulate the body's circadian rhythm, the natural cycle that regulates when we sleep and wake up. Doing yoga poses like cobra pose regularly aids in better sleep quality and allows the body to rest in a more comfortable and natural position.
You may not want to do cobra pose if you have carpal tunnel syndrome, an injury to your back, arm, or shoulder, or have recently had abdominal surgery and are pregnant.
If you need medical advice or consultation, you can either visit a doctor or use the consultation features available in the Ai Care application by downloading the Ai Care application from the App Store or Play Store.
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- dr. Monica Salim
Sarah Ezrin (2021). The Benefits of Doing Cobra Pose Every Day. Available from: https://www.healthline.com/health/fitness/benefits-of-cobra-pose
Ann Pizer, RYT (2022). How to Do Cobra Pose (Bhujangasana) in Yoga. Available from: https://www.verywellfit.com/cobra-pose-bhujangasana-3567067
Brian Krans (2018). Using Yoga to Relieve the Symptoms of Depression. Available from: https://www.healthline.com/health/depression/yoga-therapy
Cleveland Clinic (2021). Lower Back Pain. Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/7936-lower-back-pain
Eric Suni (2022). Yoga and Sleep. Available from: https://www.sleepfoundation.org/physical-activity/yoga-and-sleep