Bhunamasana Yoga Asana:

Bhunamasana is a Sanskrit word in which 'bhu' implies the 'Earth' and 'naman' means 'prostrate or salute'. Hence from the name, Bhunamanasana simply means Greeting or Prostrating the Mother Earth. Greeting the Earth Pose or Spinal Twist Prostration Pose is a grounding practice when both the body and mind expresses gratitude to the Mother Earth.

Bhunamasana Yoga Asana Steps:

• Begin seated in Dandasana (Staff Pose), extending the legs out in front of you. Allow the hands to rest on the thighs and relax.
• To follow the twist on the left, inhale, lift your both arms up on the shoulder level, parallel with the legs. As you exhale, twist and turn to the left and place your palms behind your hips, fingers pointing backwards.
• Inhale, lengthen the spine, and as you exhale, bend your hands in elbows to come into a half forward bend.
• Make sure that your elbows are open outwards and your legs are engaged with your toes pointing to the ceiling.
• Yoga teachers can even encourage their students to close their eyes and practice returning to a place of respect and reciprocity with Mother Earth.
• Stay here in the Greeting The Earth Pose for 5 breaths.
• To release, inhale, pressing your palms up and release the twist to return to the starting position, Dandasana while keeping your arms parallel with the legs.
• Counter the twist on the other side (right), following the above instructions. Inhale, twist and turn to place the palms back from the right side.
• Hold the pose for 5 breaths, inhale, slowly release the pose and come back to sit in Dandasana Hands Back Knees Bent.