Gomukhasana (Cow Face Pose)

Etymology and Origins of Gomukhasana

Gomukhasana is a Sanskrit word: ‘Go’ means cow, ‘Mukh’ means face, ‘Asana’ means Yoga pose. This is why it is called the Cow Face Pose. Gomukhasana is a seated Yoga Asana in ancient Indian Hatha Yoga and modern Yoga tradition. It is referred to in the Darshana Upanishad. This Yoga pose is also used for different types of meditation and pranayama performance.

Step by Step Instructions of Gomukhasana

Sit down on a Yoga mat with a calm and quiet mind.
Put your right leg on the left thigh with the heel pressing the left buttock, the left heel similarly presses on the right buttock.
The left hand should be bent at the elbow from your back with the fingers on the upper side to reach the right shoulder.
The right hand should be taken behind your head on the upper side with the fingers downwards such that fingers of both hands can be tied.
Your right elbow on the upper side and the left elbow on the lower side makes a straight line in your back as in the attached figure.
Your knees look like the face of a cow as in the figure.
Your eyes should be fixed far with a meditative mind.
Continue to stay in this position for 30 seconds or as you feel free initially.
Repeat the process changing your hands and legs position, 5 to 6 times in a row.
You are free to inhale and exhale deeply without any noise.

Benefits of Gomukhasana

Anatomical Focus & Disease Control

This Yoga straightens your Spine as in Padmasana, invigorates the muscles and nerves of the shoulders and neck as well as hands.
It helps you control your sexual power, and maintains celibacy.
It helps cure Rheumatism of hands, legs and shoulders.
It improves the flexibility of your back muscles and nerves too and as a result, it is a preventive check for Spondylosis.
It cures your Sciatica, Piles, Urethritis and Insomnia.
Gomukhasana involves your hands, legs, chest, shoulders, neck, spine, waist and hips. These organs are responsible for strain, tension and chronic pain. This Yoga boosts the motion in all these intermediate joints. This asana is, therefore, therapeutic in nature.
This Asana stretches your hips and makes the hips architecturally beautiful.
Gomukhasana supplies power to your ankles, thighs, shoulders, armpit, chest, breast, deltoid and triceps and makes them stronger.
Your hip joint becomes strong and beautiful.
It also alleviates your stress, anxiety and mental depression.
Those who play Soccer, Badminton, Athletic sports, and Volleyball should continue to do this Yoga in the morning and evening. They will be able to reach perfection.
This Yoga opens up the chest and breast and maintains free blood circulation so that your whole body gets refreshed and personality perfected.
There are many benefits of this Asana for students, homemakers, professionals and creative people as this Yoga stop energy diversion and increases concentration.
Boy students will be able to reduce wastage of time in adolescence period.

Benefits for Girls & Women & Students

Girls and women will be physically and mentally excited to do this Yoga.
This Yoga helps you control your sexual power.
Girls in the adolescence period must regularly do it to minimize external energy consumption.
It is specifically useful for girls and women as it cures your Sciatica, Piles, Urethritis and Insomnia.
Gomukhasana involves your hands, legs, chest, shoulders, neck, spine, waist and hips. These organs are responsible for strain, tension and chronic pain. This Yoga boosts the motion in all these intermediate joints. This asana is, therefore, therapeutic in nature for girls and women.
This Asana stretches your hips and makes the hips architecturally beautiful so that you will become attractive and remain young.
It provides power to your ankles, thighs, shoulders, armpit, chest, breast, deltoid and triceps and makes them stronger so that you will be strong.
Your hip joint becomes strong and beautiful.
It opens up the chest and breast and maintains free blood circulation so that your whole body will be refreshed and personality perfected.
There are many benefits of this Asana for girl students, homemakers, this Yoga stops energy diversion and increases concentration.
Girl students will be able to concentrate more on their studies by regularly doing this Yoga.

Precautions

I have come to know from discussion with thousands of disciples and students that initially they found it difficult to take the hands in the backside and catch the fingers. But gradually they became free to do it. Yet some students did it on the very first day. Medical Science suggests that some people have higher flexibility by birth which is DNA determined after all. My Guru has been doing it for the last 48 years since his childhood.
You should not do it when you suffer from back pain or a stiff neck.
Pregnant women must not do it.
Girls and women should not practice this Yoga during their monthly Menstrual Cycle if they find it uncomfortable.
People with knee joint problems should avoid it.
Finally, always do it in an Empty Stomach.