" T H E   T I P   O F   T H E   F O O T "   A S A N A

Hatha Yoga postures and exercises are essential in practicing Yoga. To perform these asanas correctly there is a need for perfect mental concentration, relaxation, and a good control of the nervous and musculature system.

WHO CAN PERFORM THE ASANA?
Anyone can attempt to perform this asana, there are no adverse effects from it. We recommend practicingthis asana after a long day when the feet are tired and hurt. If you perform this asana before going to bed, it will help to awaken out-of-body experiences into the subtle astral worlds, grant states of lucidity during sleep and allow the appearance of conscious dreams.

HOW TO PERFORM THE ASANA
If you find it very difficult to maintain your balance while performing this asana, you can perform the asana next to a wall.

EXECUTION ON THE LEFT SIDE

STARTING POSITION
Keep your torso as straight as possible. Place your left heel under your perineum. This detail is very important: you must place the heel exactly under the perineum. If you place the heel under the buttocks the spine and pelvis will be in an incorrect position and the balance will be immediately lost.

THE FIRST STAGE
Stretch the right foot in front, placing the heel on the ground. You can touch the ground with the fingers, to support your weight.

THE SECOND STAGE
Raise the right heel, bend your leg and then place it on the opposite hip. The hands supporting the weight on the ground also help you to maintain your balance.




THE FINAL POSE
Take your hands from the ground and bring them together in front of your chest. The whole body is now balanced entirely on the left foot.

Look at a point on the ground, approximately one metre in front, and breathe calmly. Keep the posture for as long as possible. In the beginning the posture cannot be maintained for too long, because the balance is difficult to maintain, and the supporting leg will become tired quickly.

EXECUTION ON THE RIGHT SIDE

STARTING POSITION
Keep your torso as straight as possible. Place your right heel under your perineum.

THE FIRST STAGE
Stretch the left foot in front, placing the heel on the ground. You can touch the ground with the fingers, to support your weight.

THE SECOND STAGE
Raise the left heel, bend your leg and then place it on the opposite hip. The hands supporting the weight on the ground also help you to maintain your balance.

THE FINAL POSE
Take your hands from the ground and bring them together in front of your chest. The whole body is now balanced entirely on the right foot.

Look at a point on the ground, approximately one metre in front, and breathe calmly. Keep the posture for as long as possible. In the beginning the posture cannot be maintained for too long, because the balance is difficult to maintain, and the supporting leg will become tired quickly.

BREATHING
There are two ways of breathing in this posture:
Breathe normally during the whole performance of the asana (this is obviously the simplest solution) or,
Breathe freely until you get in the final posture and then hold your breath with the lungs filled with air (this method helps mental focus).

FOCUS
During this asana, try to relax all the muscles of the face, keeping a neutral and relaxed pose. There is sometimes the tendency to frown or to clench the jaw which you must avoid. By paying attention not to becoming tense, you train yourself into a difficult discipline, that of relaxed attention, one of the fundamental states of yoga to aid your spiritual development.

EFFECTS
This asana strengthens the musculature of the soles and stimulates the blood circulation in the whole body. The sole is the location of several acupuncture points and connected to numerous nerve centres and various organs.

The special state of inner balance helps to gradually increase and improve the mental concentration and the overall state of vitality becomes exceptional. Even if performing this asana appears difficult, the result is not tiredness, but revitalization.