ETYMOLOGY: in Sanskrit, GARUDA means eagle, and consequently, GARUDASANA may be translated as “the pose of the eagle”.
GUIDELINES: GARUDASANA is a pose that grants mental equilibrium to the practitioner, as it determines a bipolar activation of Ajna chakra, as well as better mental focus.
HOW TO PERFORM THIS ASANA:
The left side:
Stand on your feet, soles a little spread and parallel.
Bring the right foot on the left thigh, and bend the left knee simultaneously.
Place the right sole on the left calf of the leg. Place the right toe on the inner side of the left ankle.
Then, bend your elbows and lift your arms until they reach the chest’ level. Place the left elbow in front of the right forearm. Grasp the finger of the left hand with the middle and … of the right hand.
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Maintain your equilibrium standing on your left foot only. Keep your eyes open while you perform this asana, fixing a spot placed approximately at the level of Ajna chakra. Keep the spine straight, vertical.
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FOCUS:
Perceive the activation of Ajna chakra in its receptive, yin aspect. Perceive also the flow of energy in the entire left half of the body. Men have to pay special attention to the state appearing after the practice of this asana, as in the case of masculine structure, the yin, receptive aspect is usually partly active.
The Right Side:
Stand on your feet, soles a little spread and parallel. Bring the left foot on the right thigh, and bend the right knee simultaneously. Place the left sole on the right calf of the leg. Place the left toe on the inner side of the right ankle.
Then, bend your elbows and lift your arms until they reach the chest’ level. Place the right elbow in front of the left forearm. Grasp the finger of the right hand with the middle and … of the left hand.
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Maintain your equilibrium standing on your left foot only. Keep your eyes open while you perform this asana, fixing a spot placed approximately at the level of Ajna chakra. Keep the spine straight, vertical.
FOCUS:
Perceive the activation of Ajna chakra in its emissive, yang aspect. Perceive also the flow of energy in the entire right half of the body. Women have to pay special attention to the state appearing after the practice of this asana, as in the case of feminine structure, the yang, emissive aspect is usually partly active.
FINAL FOCUS:
Perceive the activation of Ajna chakra, state of mental harmony and balance.
Attention: the difficulty or impossibility to maintain the equilibrium in this pose indicates a lack of harmony at the correspondent mental level. A perfect equilibrium requires a good mental focus.
BENEFICIAL EFFECTS:
- This asana is recommended for preventing the occurrence of muscular cramps and pain in the clamps.
- It also cures pain and arthritis of the joints.
- The muscles of the ankles, shanks, knees and thighs are strengthened.
- The sensations of rigidity of the shoulders are rapidly eliminated.
- This asana is of great help for people who walk or stand most of the day, as it swiftly casts away any feelings of tiredness.
Men experiencing testicle dilatation should slightly bend their trunk towards the front, while performing it.
There is also a variant of this pose, for people who are not able to perform it as such.
THE LEFT SIDE:
Stand on your feet, soles slightly spread and parallel. Bend your right leg, placing the entire surface of your sole on the inner side of the thigh, as high as possible. Then bring your hands together, as in prayer, pressing them together.
Maintain your balance, supporting your weight on the left foot only; eyes open, looking to a spot placed approximately at the level of the forehead, in front of you. Keep the spine straight while you perform this asana.
THE RIGHT SIDE:
Stand on your feet, soles slightly spread and parallel. Bend your left leg, placing the entire surface of your sole on the inner side of the thigh, as high as possible. Then bring your hands together, as in prayer, pressing them together.
Maintain your balance, supporting your weight on the right foot only; eyes open, looking to a spot placed approximately at the level of the forehead, in front of you. Keep the spine straight while you perform this asana.
The focus is exactly as explained above, trying to perceive exactly the same as in the case of Garudasana. The beneficialial effects of this variant are the same, yet not as powerful as those of Garudasana.