Demonstrating the Camel

Personal:

Professional:


References:
1) "The Secrets of Yoga," http://www.thesecretsofyoga.com/Bikram/bikram-camel.html, photo

The Naming of the Camel

In Sanskrit, this pose is called Ustrasana. The term is derived from the Sanskrit words ustra, meaning "camel," and asana, which means "posture" or "seat." The posture's English name is simply "camel pose." Several hypotheses exist to explain the comparison of this particular posture to the camel. Among these is the idea that the pose literally requires the student/yogi to assume the shape of the camel's distinctive hump. Another draws a parallel between the similarly difficult situations of both the posture and the animal: Ustrasana is regarded as a fairly difficult pose due to the relative scarcity of back bending in everyday life, while the desert home of camels is known to be one of the most inhospitable on Earth.

References:
1) "Wikipedia," http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ustrasana, meanings of Sanskrit terms
2) "Wikipedia," http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camel, photo
3) "Peter Sterios," http://www.petersterios.com/instruction.html?s=articles&article=ustrasana, comparison of posture to camels

To Be a Camel: Step-By-Step

1) Kneel on a yoga mat with your knees hip width apart and thighs perpendicular to the floor. Press your shins and the tops of your feet firmly into floor. As you inhale, lengthen your torso.

2) Begin to open the heart's center as you let your arms dangle back towards your ankles. Use the breath to relax the body, particularly your abdominal muscles; the posture is very difficult if you are tense in the torso or buttocks.

3) Lean back to fully open the heart's center and, one at a time, place the palms of your hands on the heels of your feet with the fingers pointing towards the toes. If you cannot reach your feet while they are flat on the ground, you may elevate your heels by rising to the balls of your feet.

4) Let the head hang freely and soften the throat muscles. The breath should remain slow and rhythmic. Stay in this pose anywhere from 30 seconds to a minute.

5) To exit, place the hands on the hips and inhale to lift the head and torso up into the original kneeling position. If needed, rest in child's pose for a few breaths.

Resources:

1) "Yoga Journal," http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/688, steps of ustrasana

2) "Fohn," http://fohn.net/camel-pictures-facts/, photo

What a Helpful Camel: Physical and Therapeutic Benefits

Ustrasana provides certain physical benefits such as:
1) Stretching the entire front body: neck, thighs, hip flexors, groin, and ankles
2) Strengthening the back, gluteus maximus, and arms (triceps)
3) Massaging and stimulating the organs of the abdomen and neck
4) Improving posture

Therapeutic uses of Ustrasana include:
1) Overcoming fatigue and anxiety
2) Alleviating respiratory ailments
3) Relieving mild backaches

Resources:
1) "Yoga Journal," http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/688, therapeutic benefits
2) "Yoga Online," http://www.myyogaonline.com/poses/back-bends/camel-pose-ustrasana, physical benefits
3) "Maryknoll College," http://ktmcnet.wordpress.com/2011/11/13/assembly-presentation-4-november-8-2011/, photo

Understanding the Camel: A Personal Awareness

As previously mentioned, throughout the course of our daily lives rarely does the chance or need arise to stretch our backs in any type of back bend. In reality, everyday life often ends up "crunching" our spines as we sit and move with hunched postures. Because of this, ustrasana is a very interesting experience for me personally as generally underutilized muscles are stretched and an awareness is brought to the spine. When I had first assumed the posture, I remember thinking to myself that I felt "inside out," because the general position of my body, particularly my spine, was curved in a way opposite of its everyday crouch. Being "inside out" created quite an exciting and exotic feel to this posture in that one's view and feel in ustrasana is so different! In addition, the way the heart's center is completely open and thrust towards the heavens while the head is tossed back created a liberating and strong sensation. Similarly as with the girl in the above photo, I felt like I was part of the wide, open vastness where the Earth meets the heavens. Finally, the feeling of stretching and successfully completing a yoga posture is always a pleasant one; there is a sense of accomplishment and, hopefully, inner peace.

Resources:
1) "Yoga Abode," http://www.yoga-abode.com/practice/camel_pose, photo