Cobra
The snake, a yoga pose, an effect and symbolism
the snake
The cobra, like other snakes and serpents, can trigger a primal fear in human beings. After all, they are part of the reptilian family, one of the most ancient and adaptable forms of life on this earth. Almost all can bite. Some are poisonous and, some will strangle their prey. Without eyelids, they cannot blink, which can be quite unnerving for humans. They smell with their tongue, and their jaws can unhinge, allowing them to swallow all the nourishment they need at once. Their skin is a conglomeration of tough scales that appear smooth and sometimes shiny. Although it is quite dry, it helps them to move with ease and protect them from adversity.
All of the known cobras are venomous. Many of them are capable of rearing upwards and producing a hood when threatened. The black desert cobra and the coral snake are cobras that do not rear upwards, nor do they produce a hood when threatened. However, they are still highly venomous.ss.
a yoga pose: cobra aka Bhujangasana
In cobra pose, your body reflects back the look of a cobra’s raised hood as you raise your head lifting the chest with an inhale. Then we exhale, lowering down to a relaxed state. When mimicking the alert state of a cobra — with your head raised as your lower body rests on the ground — there is something very empowering as you embody the energy of this ancient animal. Like the cobra, we become powerful as we strengthen our spine and increase agility, we are able to move with more ease in our daily lives.
In fact, the cobra pose strengthens the group of muscles and tendons that extend the whole length of your spine and keeps your body upright - the erector spinae. It also helps to strengthen the gluteus maximus muscles. More importantly, the cobra pose can strengthen other lesser ‘worked’ muscles like our gluteus medius, and minimus of the buttocks, both of which help to stabilize the pelvis. Hence, we experience the benefits of a more agile and supple spine and improved posture through the practice of this pose.
practising cobra pose
Cobra pose is an energising backbend. As with all yoga poses, our level of flexibility and opening can differ as we bend and stretch our back. Start with a lower cobra or ‘baby’ cobra as you warm your body and build from there. Warm your body sufficiently before fully expressing the pose. Also, keep in mind that inhaling and exhaling plays an important part — as we bend and stretch — as we open. We inhale and exhale as we release.
in sequences
It is also an essential part of the traditional sun salutation, known as Surya Namaskar, practised in Hatha yoga. This pose is frequently practised as the first in the series of back bending asanas followed by the locust pose AKA Shalabhasana and bow pose AKA Dhanurasana postures.
how to practise the pose
Begin by lowering your body down to the ground. Your body is facing downward. Your hands are underneath your shoulders, and your feet are pointed to the back wall. Keeping your hands and feet in place, you slide and raise the chest forward and up, open your shoulders - pulling them away from your ears. Be aware of the point of extension as you lift, going as far as you can without straining your back. Keep your elbows slightly bent, arms close to your body pushing up to a comfortable position. Tilt your head back and look up. The best way to check if you are not too high is to take your hands off the floor for a moment so that the height you are at will be comfortable and safe. Your hips and thighs remain grounded on the mat. As you hold this pose, your legs are active; they are extended downward from the hips, with the tops of your feet pressed into the mat.
benefits
This pose nourishes the spine and strengthens and tones the lower back increasing agility rejuvenating the spinal nerves and relieving stress. This powerful backbend stretches and strengthens the muscles in the chest, shoulders, abdomen and buttocks - strengthening the spine and improving posture. A rich supply of blood flows to each vertebra of the spine in this pose. Cobra pose opens the chest, allowing for deeper breathing. Also, it stimulates digestion and helps relieve constipation. This posture is an excellent tonic for women as it significantly helps to alleviate menstrual problems. It is also recommended as a remedy to alleviate sciatica and low back pain. Some traditional yoga texts assert that this pose increases body heat and destroys all diseases.
when to avoid this pose
Cobra pose should be avoided if you are suffering from a hernia.
If you have injured your back only do this pose after consulting with your family chiropractor, physical therapist or other health specialists.
Pregnant women should avoid this pose.
symbolism
These ancient creatures are found in art and symbols throughout the ages worldwide. As an intrinsic part of the whole of creation the snake is associated with danger and death, death and rebirth, and initiation. It correlates with all of these things for a variety of reasons. One of the most obvious is the process of shedding its skin. As it outgrows its old skin, the shedding process begins first as its eyes begin to cloud over. The snake enters into a trancelike state and, as the shedding begins its eyes clear as it begins a new life. Numerous meanings warrant their own detailed analysis. Snakes lay eggs and bury them. When the egg hatches, a new life enters the world alone fending for itself. To survive, it must be self-sufficient and resilient.
cobra effect
The cobra effect is when a strategy is implemented and yields unintended consequences making the problem worse. Usually, the term is used concerning an economic stimulus or political policy. The term originated in India under British rule.“The British government was concerned about the number of venomous cobras in Delhi.
The government, therefore, offered a bounty for every dead cobra. Initially, this was a successful strategy as large numbers of snakes were killed for the reward. Eventually, however, enterprising people began to breed cobras for income. When the government became aware of this, the reward program was scrapped, causing the cobra breeders to set the worthless snakes free; the wild cobra population further increased.”
