Sphinx Asana is a great pose to keep your spine supple and healthy. A stiff spine will interfere with all nervous impulses sent from the brain to the body and vice verse – it literally affects everything!
Why not give it a try today? Most people can give it a try – so long as you can get down onto the floor OK. Of course – if it causes any pain then stop. Maybe contact a yoga teacher near you to see if they can give you some guidance.
To practice Sphinx Asana
Lie flat on the stomach with forehead resting on the floor. Legs are straight, feet together and the soles of the feet uppermost.
Ben the arms and place the forearms on the floor with the palms downward, on each side of the head. The fingertips point forward, elbows are close to the body directly underneath the shoulders.
Relax the whole body, and as you inhale raise the head, shoulders and chest. Upper arms will now be vertical.
Relax in the position – if you know abdominal breathing or 3 part breathing you can work with the breath.
When you are ready lower the head, chest and shoulders on an exhalation.
You can practice up to 5 rounds, so long as there is no discomfort.
Benefits of Sphinx Asana
Arching the spine in this way improves circulation to the back region and tones the nerves.
The alignment of the vertebrae is assisted and the spine is kept in a supple and healthy state, many issues of referred pain (where you feel it somewhere else) can be resolved.
Pressure on the lower abdomen can help to alleviate menstrual and other gynaecological disorders.
It can stimulate the appetite and alleviate constipation.
It can be beneficial to the liver and kidneys – stimulating the adrenal glands on top of the kidneys enhancing their efficiency.
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