Fish Pose ( Matsyasana ) Benefits Discussion
Easy Fish Pose is one very useful and comfortable Fish pose we can practice !
Personal Experience
I have personal experience when I received Back pain, rather Back Injury, in the lumbar region. Then I was pursuing M.Sc. degree, staying in the Hostel. I was rather kind of ‘Rash’ at that time, for being younger perhaps. Without having any Warm-Up session I started doing fifty push-ups at a time in the first round . I had the experience and expertise, but I did not practice push-ups(known popularly as ‘don’ in West Bengal, India for a long time, say one year or a bit more. I was sort of depressed as well due to not getting good job then.
Easy Fish Pose
One fine morning I just felt like going for push-ups to make my muscles more prominent rather instantly. Then it was winter season. I mde fifty push-ups at a time in the first round without any prior warm-up. I went for second or third round, but the first round might be responsible. It happened at noon, before lunch. That day I did not find any problem.
On the next day I just went to the adjoining garden where I found a long-handled spade lying around. The soil of the garden was moist and compact. I picked up the spade and struck the ground to lift up a big chunk of land. While giving pressure through my lower back portion to strike through and break and lift up a bigger chunk of land I felt pain in the lumbar portion . I did not want to believe it, so I repeated, but felt greater pain trying to repeat. It got more acute while bending down to be sure. I visited a known physician nearby who advised fifteen days bed rest initially and extended for another fifteen days duration.
I must mention here as well that I followed the classical pull-up which may be one vital factor of injury.
This Fish Pose is particularly very beneficial for those suffering from asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory problems. For the neck, back and lumbar regions it is a superb yoga pose. It increases lungs capacity and induces deep breathing. It does also increase blood supply to the head, nourishing the pituitary and pineal glands.
Fish pose has a great role in enhancing the retention capacity (Kumbhak) of the lungs. It helps expand the rib-cage creating more space for the expansion of the lungs. In this way Fish pose helps correcting pigeon chest.
Fish Pose Myths and Realities :
Many great ascetics used this Fish pose to dip and float in water( Trailanga Swami). Is it for the fact that this Fish pose helps retaining oxygen in the lungs for a longer time? Modern medical can/cannot prove this for sure, but you my be sure that Fish Pose helps your lungs.
** This is upto you totally whether you would believe or not on the miraculous feats of Indian yogis, especially of the olden yogis!