KURMASANA:

KURMASANA:

Kuram means a tortoise. The asana is dedicated to Kurma the Tortoise Incarnation of Vishnu, the maintainer of the universe. Many divie treasures had been lost in universal flood including amrutha (nectar) with which the gods preserved their youth. To retrieve the lost treasures the gods entered into an alliance wtih the demons and jointly undertook to churn the cosmic ocean. Visnu became a great tortoise anddived to the bottom of the ocean. On his back was Mount Mandara for the churning stick and round the mountain was twined the divineserpent Vasuki for the rope. The ocean waas churned by thejoint efforts of the gods and demons in pulling the snake and twirling the mountain. From the churned ocean emerged amrutha and various other treasures including Laksmi, consort of Vishnu and the goddess of wealth and beauty.
From staff posture, spread the legs out as wide as comfortable.
Bend both knees and slide the arms under the knees. Rock back and forth to slide the arms further under the legs and to bring the arms behind your back with the palms facing down.
Begin to straighten the legs, pressing out through the heels, using the legs to pull the shoulders down to the floor. Let the head hang, or bring the chin or forehead to the floor.
Breathe and hold for 3-8 breaths.
To release: slowly bend the knees and rock the hips to gently slide the arms from under the legs.

EFFECTS:

Tortoise opens the hips and stretches the legs, back, and shoulders. This posture draws the focus of the mind inward and promotes surrender, inner security and tranquility. This pose is sacred to a yogi. While describing the qualities of a sthita-pranja (one who is stable of miond ) to Arjuna, the Blessed Lord says: 'When, again as a tortoise draws its limbs in on all sides,he withdraws his senses from the objects of sense, and then his understanding is well-poised."(Bhagavad Gita, second discourse, while the from anxiety amid pains and indifferent amid pleasures, while the emotions of passion, fear andanger will loosen their hold upon the mind.On the purely physical level the effects are also great. It tones the spine, activates the abdominal organs and keeps one energetic and healthy. It soothes the nerves of the brain and after completing it one feels refreshed as though one had wokenup from a log undisturbed sleep. This asana prepares the aspirant for the fifth stage of yogic practices, namel, Pratyahara (with drawal of the senses from outside objects).