Vakrasana or twisted pose - A yoga asana to tone your abdomen and thighs

Vakrasana is a very effective pose to tone your abdomen and stretch your thighs.

Vakrasana or twisted pose is a simplified version of ardha matsyendrasana. It is a very effective pose to tone your abdomen and stretch your thighs. This asana is also helpful in reducing fat from the waist. It improves your posture and flexibility of the spinal column. This asana is an excellent posture for combating sciatica pain. Further, it can help to cure and prevent constipation, indigestion, and asthma.

How to do the asana

Sit erect and stretch both your legs in front together. Your hands should be by the side of your body and your palms should rest on the ground.
Now slowly fold your left leg at the knee and place the sole of your left leg on the ground near your right knee. The knee of the left leg should make a 90 degrees angle straight towards the sky.
Take your left hand towards your back, and place the palm on the ground.
Now place the right hand towards the other side of the left knee. If your legs are stretched towards east then fingers of the hand should point towards north.
Twist your head and try to look back.
While returning to the original position, first bring the head in the original position.
Now bring the right hand to its original position and then get the left hand from the back and place it by the side of the body.
Slowly stretch out the folded leg and sit erect.
Now repeat the steps, in the same way with the other leg. This complete one round of Vakrasana
Try to complete at least 4-5 rounds of this asana. Make sure that your breathing is rhythmic while you are doing this asana.

This video will help you understand the steps of vakrasana better