Vajrasana (yoga)

This article is about the asana. For Vajrasana monastery, see Bodh Gaya.

Vajrasana

Vajrasana (/vədʒˈrɑːsᵻnᵻ/; IAST: vajrāsana), "vajra Pose", is a sitting asana in yoga. It is a kneeling position sitting on the heels.

Etymology

The name comes from the Sanskrit words vajra meaning "thunderbolt" or "diamond like", and asana (आसन, āsana) meaning "posture" or "seat".

Description

The practitioner sits on the heels with the calves beneath the thighs. There is a four finger gap between the knee-caps, and the first toe of both the feet touch each other and sit erect.

Benefits

This asana helps in digestive issues like constipation. It also strengthens the muscles of the legs and back.

Contraindications and cautions

Some orthopaedic surgeons claim Vajrasana may be harmful to knees.

It has also been linked to damage to the common fibular nerve resulting in foot drop, where dorsiflexion of the foot is compromised and the foot drags (the toe points) during walking; and in sensory loss to the dorsal surface of the foot and portions of the anterior, lower-lateral leg. In this context it has been called "yoga foot drop".

See also

• List of asanas
• Seiza