Asana name: Thunderbolt Pose

Step 1

Sanskrit name: Vajrasan

Meaning: Thunderbolt Pose
General Benefits:
Alters the flow of blood and nervous impulses in the pelvic
region and strengthens the pelvic muscles. Increases
efficiency of the entire digestive system. It aids in digestion
immediately after eating. This is the only asana that can be
practiced after a meal, ideally for ten minutes. It is an
important meditation posture because the body becomes
upright and straight with no effort. The mind and body
becomes stabilized and hence it is one of the
recommended asanas for pranayam, concentration and
meditation. Stimulates the vajra nadi and redirects sexual
energy. - The special fold of the legs forms a bandha. This
bandha controls the blood circulation from the waist
downwards which is the reason this asana is recommended
after Shirshasan. It also means that there is increased
blood circulation in the abdominal area.

Benefits for Women:

Step 2

Step 3

Therapeutic Applications:
Weak digestive system
Taking the Position:
In sitting position, bend your left leg and bring the foot to
the left buttock. Bend your right leg and place the right foot
next to the left foot. Shift the weight forward onto the toes.
Bring your knees to the ground, toes together, heels apart
and sit between your heels. Place the palms of your hands
on the knees. Maintain the asana, breathing normally.

Releasing the Positions:

To release the asana, remove the hands from the knees
and return them to your sides. Raise your knees and shift

Step 4

your weight onto your toes. Straighten the left leg.

Straighten the right leg and lower the buttocks to the
ground returning to sitting position.
Anatomical Focus:
Lumbar region of the spinal column. Lower abdomen.
Anatomical Awareness:
Focus on lower back, buttocks

Do's:
Remember to breathe normally while in the pose, as there
would be a tendency to stop doing so.

Don'ts:
Tense up the whole body while lifting the legs off the
ground and maintaining it. The body should be soft and
efforts to be made on relaxing the body.
Precautions & Contraindications:
People who have any spinal column ailments, especially on the lower vertebrae should not attempt this pose.
Those with hernia, intestinal ulcers and other diseases of the small and large intestine should practice this pose
under expert guidance and advice. Beginners should work slowly on improving the strength of the lower back
muscles, before lifting the legs up or increasing the duration to hold this pose. This would help in minimizing the
strain of the breath. Benefits of this pose are greatly minimized if the individual capacity is exceeded. One
should practice minimum lifting and increased duration, instead of maximum lifting of the legs and maintaining
the posture for a shorter time. The ideal pose should be achieved under these guidelines.

Variations & Tips:

For a start, focus should be on maintaining a slow and rhythmic breathing. This could be achieved when the
pose is steady and comfortable. People often lift the legs up too high, and end up straining the body and breath.
As in Niralamba Bhunjungasana (lengthening the torso to the front), think of lengthening the legs to the back of
the room. Stretch the entire length of the legs, but do not tense up while doing so. Practice patience and humility

in the pose. Move into the posture in a slow, controlled& systematically way, so as to keep the awareness and
ideal position in mind at all times.

Preparatory Poses:
Ardha Shalabhasana. Shalabhasana

Follow-up Poses:
Makarasana. Vajarasana Type 1 with arms relaxed by the side of the legs a.k.a Child Pose. Shavasana
Position:
Prone.

YOGA
VAJRASANA

AEROMOBILECAR

RAINFALL IN CHENNAI 2015

KOTTURPURAM

Unprecedented heavy Chennai rains, followed by Chennai floods, marked the

beginning of December this year. After wrecking havoc on the residents of the
capital city of Tamil Nadu for almost a month in November, back to back systems
in the Bay of Bengal continued to give torrential rain over the city in December as
well, resulting in a flood like situation over many areas of the state.
Chennai has so far received 539 mm of rain in December as against the monthly
average of 191 mm. Chennai rain in December was almost 3 times more than the
normal rainfall in December. It has also broken the record of last ten years when
the capital city received 421 mm of rain in 2005.
During the month of November, the city recorded a whopping 1218.6 mm of rain,
which is three times its monthly rainfall. The normal rainfall figures for November
stand at 407.4 mm.
On December 1, in just a span of 12 hours, Chennai has received a record breaking
272 mm of rainfall. The citys normal rainfall for December stands at 191 mm. Not
only this, Chennai has also broken over a 100-year-old 24 hour rainfall record.

Previously, on December 10, 1901, Chennai had recorded 261.6 mm rainfall in a

span of 24 hours. Chennai has also broken monthly rainfall record of December
1910. With more rain in the offing, 2015 will be a record breaking year for
Chennai in terms of rainfall.
As per Skymet Meteorology Division in India, heavy to very heavy rain is unlikely
in Chennai for now.