Cover uncovered: Here's all you need to know about the Ramdev asana breaking the internet
India Today magazine's cover photo for its latest issue, featuring yoga guru Baba Ramdev, has gone viral on social media. Baba Ramdev is seen doing Prasarita Padottanasana in the photo.
Latest issue of the India Today magazine features controversial yoga guru Baba Ramdev on its cover.
The magazine cover unveiled yesterday has already gone viral on social media networks and Twitterati had some fun with it.
Also read: India Today magazine's cover with Baba Ramdev goes viral
Many were amused by the asana Baba is seen doing and wondered whether such an asana even exists. Let us tell you it does, and here we decode it for you.
The asana Baba Ramdev is seen performing in the photo is a variety of what is called as Prasarita Padottanasana. In English, it is called Wide Stance Forward Bend.
Here's how the Sanskrit name of this asana is derived:
Prasarita means "wide stance"
Pada means "leg/foot"
ud stands for a prefix for verbs or nouns that implies superiority in place, range, power, or intensity.
Tana means "extended"
Uttana means "intense stretch, straight, extended"
Asana means "pose, posture, seat"
So put together, Parasarita Padottanasana stands for Wide Stance Forward Bend.
No, we are not yoga experts. The above information is straight from Ashtangayoga website.
Before we tell you how to do this asana, here are its benefits:
Yoga Journal website tells us the benefits of Prasarita Padottanasana, when done right.
- Stretches your hamstrings, calves, and hips.
- Strengthens your feet, ankles, and legs.
- Builds awareness of how to protect your lower back.
- Builds strength in your shoulders and upper back.
- Gives length and ease to your neck muscles.
Now, here's how you can do Prasarita Padottanasana yourself. Watch this video by yoga trainer Kino MacGregor.