Category: Twisting Poses

Wednesday Workout: Marichyasana

8/16/2017

Benefits of Marichyasana

Calms the mind and body
It stretches the shoulders
Massages the internal organs
Improves digestion
Opens hips, pelvis, chest & shoulders
Relieves mild backache and hip pain

This week our peak pose was Marichyasana. This pose, named after the sage, Marichi, is a deep twisting, folding and opening seated position. It requires flexibility in a number of muscle groups including: hip flexors, hamstrings, gluteal, and calf. All the folding and twisting of this asana helps to keep the spinal muscles mobile as well as squeezes and flushes the internal organs with new oxygenated blood. Just be sure to be warmed up and careful with these poses. Never force yourself into a pose—that's a great way to severely injure yourself. This entire flow sequence is designed to help prepare our bodies for marichyasana. So, if your goal is to achieve this pose with ease, try working on this sequence at home, Enjoy yogis!
Namaste.
- Ann

Preparing for Marichyasana
If you're anything like me, you need to prepare your body for any of the Marichyasana poses. Here are just a few of many poses out there that may help prepare your body for this challenging pose.

Siddhasana (accomplished pose) or Sukhasana (easy pose)
Supta Baddha Konasana (reclining bound angle)
Supta Padangusthasana (reclined hand to foot pose)
Uttanasana (standing forward fold)
Baddha Konasana (bound angle pose)
Janu Sirsasana (head to knee forward fold)
Utthita Parsvakonasana (extended side angle)
Virasana (hero pose)
Supta Virasana (reclined hero pose)
Triang Mukha Eka Pada Pachimottanasana (Three limbs facing one foot westward stretching pose)
Ardha Baddha Padma Paschimottanasana (half bound lotus westward stretching pose)

Once you've had a chance to warm up, then try moving into one of the "beginning level" Marichyasana poses.

***DISCLAIMER***
You should consult a medical practitioner before starting any new exercise regime. This is particularly important if you are overweight, pregnant, nursing, regularly taking medications, or have any existing medical conditions. The information contained in this website may not be tailored to your current physical and mental health. I accept no liability whatsoever for any damages arising from the use of this website. As with any workout or yoga class, be sure to warm up properly and cool down afterward to avoid injury.

Icons edited and created from source artwork made by Roundicons from www.flaticon.com is licensed by CC 3.0 BY

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Story Behind the Pose: Marichyasana

8/9/2017

Marichyasana
(modified)

There are eight (8) variations of the pose dedicated to the Sage Marichi. All are deep folds, twists and hip openers. They all help to calm your mind and extend your spine. Plus all that deep twisting helps give your internal organs a healthy squeeze.

CAUTION: Please don't attempt these poses without supervision and instruction from an experienced Astanga instructor.

Marichyasana A-D is part of the primary series of Astanga.
Below are all four poses and links to read more about the pose and how to achieve it.

Marichyasana A

Marichyasana B

Marichyasana C

Marichyasana D

SOURCE: Ashtanga Yoga Information

Marichyasana E-H is part of the fourth series of Astanga.
Below are all four poses and links to watch videos of Kino Macgregor working into and out of each.

Marichyasana E

Marichyasana F

Marichyasana G

Marichyasana H

SOURCE: Kino Macgregor

Who is Marichi?
Marichi was the son of Brahma, the divine creator. After Brahma created heaven and earth, he created ten sons (Mansaputras, which in Sanskrit translates to “sons born from mind”). Marichi is one of those ten sons. His name, Marichi, when translated literally, means a ray of light (either moon or sun rays). Mariachi symbolizes great power, wisdom, and the cosmic force of creation. He is considered as one of the most important and iconic characters in Hinduism and is revered by devotees and worshippers all over the world.

Marichi was married to Kala, who gave birth to their son Kashyapa, later known as the ‘Lord of Creatures’. Marichi's grandson was the sun god, Surya, who is also called the giver of life. This is the god to whomSurya Namaskara is dedicated. Last, but not least, Marichi's great-grandson was Manu, the father of humanity. The first three letters of Manu are man which is a Sanskrit root meaning ‘to think’, and it is this same Sanskrit root that gave birth to the English word man.

A few stories about Marichi

Dharmavrata's Curse
One day Marichi went to the forest to collect wood and flowers and returned to his home extremely tired. He called his wife Dharmavrata, and told her that she was to wash his feet for him. Just as Dharmavrata began to wash her husband’s feet, Brahma arrived. Dharmavrata did not know what she should do, should she continue to wash her husband’s feet, or turn her attentions to Brahma, who was Marichi’s father. She chose the latter and suffered the wrath of her husband.

Marichi became extremely angry and put a curse on his wife, turning her into a stone. Dharmavrata was naturally upset by this, believing that she was being punished unnecessarily. As a reaction to this, Dharmavrata began many years of meditation which were noticed by Lord Visnu who, impressed by her devotion, granted her a wish. All Dharmavrata wanted was to have Marichi’s curse lifted. Unfortunately, Marichi was such a powerful sage that this was impossible to do. Instead, Dharmavrata was transformed into a holy stone, which was desired by all gods.

Marichi & the Mahabharata
Marichi also appears several times in the Mahābhārata, which is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India. The other is the Ramayana, In the Mahabharata, Marichi is there to celebrate the birth of Arjuna, another time he went to the deathbed of Bhishma, the teacher of Pandavas and Kauravas princes. In the Mahabharata (by unlucky coincidence) he fights on the side of the "bad guys" the Kauravas. When he dies on the battlefield he instructs his students about the Dharma. In the Bhagavata Purana he unties the God of Fire, Indra, by a ritual from the sin he committed by killing the demon Vritra. After his life on earth Marichi has risen into the Firmament as he became one of the stars in the star sign of the Great Wagon.

SOURCE: Tirisula Yoga

BENEFITS
Marichyasana massages abdominal organs, including the liver and kidneys. It stretches the shoulders. Stimulates the brain. Relieves mild backache and hip pain. Plus it helps to strengthen and stretch the spine.

THERAPUTIC APPLICATIONS
- Constipation
- Digestive problems
- Asthma
- Fatigue
- Lower backache
- Sciatica
- Menstrual discomfort

Icons edited and created from source artwork made by Roundicons from www.flaticon.com is licensed by CC 3.0 BY

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