Simhasana is a good pose to use to “clear the air,” so to speak, at or near the beginning of an asana or pranayama practice. So almost any pose ...(sim-HAHS-anna)simha=lionStepbyStepStep1Kneelonthefloorandcrossthefrontoftherightankleoverthebackoftheleft.Thefeetwillpointouttothesides.Sitbacksotheperineumsnugglesdownontotheonthetop(right)heel.Step2Pressyourpalmsfirmlyagainstyourknees.Fanthepalmsandsplayyourfingerslikethesharpenedclawsofalargefeline.Step3Takeadeepinhalationthroughthenose.Thensimultaneouslyopenyourmouthwideandstretchyourtongueout,curlingitstipdowntowardthechin,openyoureyeswide,contractthemusclesonthefrontofyourthroat,andexhalethebreathslowlyoutthroughyourmouthwithadistinct“ha”sound.Thebreathshouldpassoverthebackofthethroat.Step4Sometextsinstructustosetourgaze(drishti)atthespotbetweentheeyebrows.Thisiscalled“mid-browgazing”(bhru-madhya-drishti;bhru=thebrow;madhya=middle).Othertextsdirecttheeyestothetipofthenose(nasa-agra-drishti;nasa=nose;agra=foremostpointorpart,i.e.,tip).Step5Youcanroartwoorthreetimes.Thenchangethecrossofthelegsandrepeatforthesamenumberoftimes.PoseInformationSanskritNameSimhasanaPoseLevel1ContraindicationsandCautionsIfyouhaveakneeinjury,alwaysbecautiousinflexed-kneesittingpositionsand,ifnecessary,sitonachairtodothepose.ModificationsandPropsIfyoufindthelegpositiondescribedabovetobeuncomfortable,simplysitinVirasana.Sitonablockpositionedbetweenyourfeet.DeepenthePoseSomeoldinstructionalmanualsteachthatJalandharaBandhashouldbeperformedduringSimhasana.TheraputicApplicationsAccordingtoseveralsources,Simhasanaisausefulposeforpeoplewithbadbreathorforthosewhostutter.PreparatoryPosesBaddhaKonasanaDandasanaSiddhasanaorSukhasanaSuptaVirasanaSuptaBaddhaKonasanaVirasanaFollow-upPosesSimhasanaisagoodposetouseto“cleartheair,”sotospeak,atornearthebeginningofanasanaorpranayamapractice.Soalmostanyposewouldbeappropriatetopracticenext.Beginner’sTipThehandsandshoulderbladesaresympatheticallyconnected.Asyouspreadtherightpalmontherightknee,feelhowtheshoulderbl