August Pose of the Month: Hanumanasana

Hanumanasana chosen by Jeremy Frindel

I chose this pose not simply because I hang out in a clan of monkeys. Or because I’ve always secretly wanted to have moves like Prince. Hanumanasana can be a challenging pose, but for me has been one of the most rewarding. I’ve found it to really wake up the energy at the base of the spine, and lift it straight up. It was the first pose that I strongly felt the effects of working with mula bandha in the postures. It takes a certain devotion and commitment to open the body towards the full pose, and if you follow the mythology behind the poses, this pose is the physical embodiment of devotion. It is named for Hanuman leaping across the ocean from India to Sri Lanka out of love and devotion to Rama and Sita.