Matsyasana (Fish Pose)

Fish pose stretches the upper body and opens up the chest area. It improves hormonal function of the body.

Below are the steps to perform Matsyasana.

• Lie on your back, feet together and hands relaxed alongside the body.
• Place the hands underneath the hips, palms facing down. Bring the elbows closer toward each other.
• Breathing in, lift the head and chest up.
• Keeping the chest lifted up, lower the head backward and bring the top of the head to the floor.
  
• Keeping the head lightly on the ground, press the elbows firmly into the ground, placing the weight on the elbow not on the head and lift your chest up from in-between the shoulder blades. Press thighs and legs to the floor.
• Hold and continue with gentle long breaths in and out, relax in the posture onthe out breath.
• Lift the head up, bring the hands out, and lower the chest and head to the floor.
• Relax.

Benefits:

• Stretches chest and neck.
• Helps to relieve tension in neck and shoulders.
• Helps to relieve respiratory disorders as it encourages deep breathing.
• Tones the parathyroid, pituitary and pineal gland.