What is Prayer Pose and how does it benefit?
Prayer Pose is known as Pranamasana. It is a salutation pose and can be practiced by every body.
You stand straight with both your feet together. Bend your elbows and join the palms together, fingers pointing upward. Place the joined palms against your chest. Push the chest forward so that your thumbs are touching your chest. Brace your shoulders and keep your spine erect. Stand well balanced and gaze in front. Breathe normally.
It teaches you to balance and concentrate, and calms your mind. The entire body is kept in complete equilibrium. The Prayer Pose increases the power of concentration and develops an attitude of reverence.
We also practice this pose in ‘Surya Namaskar’ (The Sun Salutation Pose) which has 12 simple postures. We begin and end with the Prayer Pose; it forms the 1st and 12th positions in the sequence of twelve postures. The Prayer Pose is also known as ‘Namaste’, the Indian tradition of greeting and showing respect by folding the hands.
The Prayer Pose can be practiced in reverse too. Stand straight with both your feet together. Inhale and stretch the upper torso forward. Exhale, turn your wrists and bring both your palms up above the middle of your backside, the fingers at the level of your shoulder blades.
This Prayer pose makes the wrists, arms, and fingers flexible. This pose is also good for drooping shoulders as while stretching your hands at the back towards your shoulder blades, you are pushing the shoulders well back. It also stretches your spine. However it is not easy to fold the hands together at the back and should not be practiced if you have any problem in your arms, hands and wrists. The normal Prayer pose can be practiced seated as well. It is actually a calming meditative pose.
The Prayer Pose can be practiced with your eyes closed as well. When your eyes are open, you are focusing in front and trying to concentrate. The erect spine keeps your mind alert. When you close your eyes, you start looking inward. It gives peace and tranquility of mind.
When you close your eyes, you will feel that your body is gently moving though you are standing still. It prepares you for balancing yoga postures. You can also practice a variation of this Prayer pose by folding your right knee and placing the right foot on the inner thigh of the left leg. Keep your hand in prayer pose. Maintain the pose and breathe normally. Relax and repeat the pose with the other leg. It tones your leg muscles and your ankles get strengthened. In fact, the prayer pose is an important pose as a transition to many other advanced poses.
The Prayer pose is excellent for prayers and chanting hymns.
