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Lion Pose - Simhasana

Lion Yoga Pose - YanvaYoga

Contents

The Lion Pose, or Roaring Lion Pose (whose original Indian name is Simhasana) in yoga is suitable for people of all ages, as it is relatively easy to perform. ‘Simha’ in Sanskrit means, Lion, and this posture gets its name because the face of the person performing it resembles the face of a Roaring Lion (Simha Mudra), with open mouth and extended tongue.

Lion Pose is considered a base pose as lion pose variations can be derived from this pose.

Pose Detail

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1
Commence by assuming Hero Pose (Virasana), sitting on your shins with your knees together and your big toes touching. Gently lower your buttocks onto your heels and elongate your torso.
Step 2
Place your palms on your knees.
Step 3
Inhale slowly while extending your spine from the tailbone to the crown of your head.
Step 4
Upon exhaling deeply, spread your fingers wide, resembling claws.
Step 5
Open your mouth wide, protruding your tongue downward with its tip reaching toward your chin.
Step 6
Lift your eyebrows and direct your gaze upward, focusing on the third eye (the space between your eyebrows).
Step 7
Avoid slouching by broadening your chest and pulling your shoulders back and down, away from your ears.
Step 8
Exhale audibly, producing a roaring "haaaa" sound to fully release your breath.
Step 9
With the next inhalation, return your face to a neutral position, allowing your neck, chest, and hands to relax.
Step 10
Repeat this sequence for a minimum of eight rounds of breath.

Benefits and Contraindications

Benefits

Relieves tension in the chest and face.

An often-overlooked benefit of Simhasana is that it stimulates the platysma, a flat, thin, rectangular-shaped muscle on the front of the throat. The platysma, when contracted, pulls down on the corners of the mouth and wrinkles the skin of the neck.

Simhasana helps keep the platysma firm as we age.

According to traditional texts, Simhasana destroys disease and facilitates the three major bandhas (Mula, Jalandhara, Uddiyana).

Contraindications

If you have a knee injury, always be cautious in flexed-knee sitting positions and, if necessary, sit on a chair to do the pose.

Photo poses in different angles

Tips

The hands and shoulder blades are sympathetically connected. As you spread the right palm on the right knee, feel how the shoulder blade spreads across your back. Similarly, as you press each palm against the same-side knee, feel how the same-side shoulder blade presses more deeply into the back, helping to lift the heart.

Frequently Asked Questions

Modifications & Variations

  • Lion Pose II
  • Lion Pose Hands Under Legs
  • Lion Pose Lotus Legs
  • Lion Pose Close Up

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Iana Varshavska
Iana Varshavska
Website administrator

A digital marketer in love with yoga and everything that goes along with it. In 2021, her huge passion for yoga led her to yoga teacher trainings. After successfully completing her studies, Iana received her Yoga Alliance U.S. certification, left the corporate IT world and devoted herself to the development of Yanva. To be able to create the best online yoga space for yoga enthusiasts like her, Iana is constantly learning and improving her skills in various aspects of yoga philosophy, anatomy and biomechanics. Since 2021, she has continued to attend various types of teacher training, including yoga therapy, gives online and offline classes, and conducts local workshops for people who want to learn more about yoga. At the moment, Iana continues to work on her personal practice, improving her hand balancing skills, as well as developing her own training programs.