Baddha padmasana

Baddha padmasana means locked or bound in Sanskrit. This pose is called locked lotus pose, because the limbs of the body, while in padmasana posture, are firmly locked up and immobilized to enhance its steadiness. This asana is not meant for meditation. This is chiefly meant for health- improvement and for making the body strong. This asana is difficult to perform. Those who are unable to practice this asana should not be disappointed. They should patiently try to accomplish the final position.

Technique :

• Sit in padmasana with legs crossed. The heels should touch the lower part of the abdomen.
• Swing the right arm behind the back of the shoulder and bring the hand near the left hip.
• Sit erect and hold the position for a few seconds.
• Similarly,swing the left arm and hold the right big toe.
• If you experience difficulty in holding the toes, bend slightly forward and make it convenient to hold the big toes.
• After catching the toes, sit erect as before and breath normally.
• Stay in this position for one or two minutes in the initial stage.
• Gradually, increase the time till you can stay in the position for ten minutes.
• release the hands and unlock the foot lock.
• Strech out the legs again and assume the normal sitting position.

Benefits of asana :

• In this asana, the weight of the body is borne by the knees and the ankle-joints, so the joints of the legs becomestrong.
• This asana increases the range of the shoulder movements.
• Both the heels of the legs get sufficient exercise.
• This asana helps to cure ailments like indigestion, flatulence, stomachache etc.
• The continuous practice of this asana helps the person to gradually overcome the weakness of the heart, the lungs, the stomach, the liver and the spine.
  
• It reduce the pain in the knees and the ankle-joints.
• This asana stimulates the endocrine glands.
• This asana is useful to cure diseases like asthma, insomnia and hysteria.
• This asana relieves the body of its excessive fat and it increases the vitality.

Precautions :

• Practice this asana only after mastering Padmasana as it demands a high degree of skill.
• Pregnant women must not practice this asana.
  
• Those feeling discomfort should not force themselves.