"The state of yoga is attained via a balance between assiduousness (abhyasa) and imperturbability (vairagya)." - Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra, 1:12
Garudasana is a standing yoga asana which is usually placed at the end of a series of standing poses. In this asana, one arm is twisted around the other, and the same is done with the legs. This asana gets its name from Garuda, a mythical bird and the vehicle of Lord Vishnu. Although eagle is a loose translation of Garuda, this pose is also known as Eagle Pose in English.
Beginners often find this pose difficult because it requires flexibility to twist the arms to make the palms touch and to wrap one leg around the other properly. It also requires strength and balance to stand on one foot while maintaining the arm and leg twists.
This is why beginners are sometimes asked to use a wall for bracing support while learning this technique. Even though this pose takes patience and practice to master, it has a number of benefits. Apart from stretching the arms and legs, it also opens up the joints of the shoulders, arms and legs. This asana is very effective in increasing concentration levels as well as improving muscle strength.
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