1. Strong and Straight Posture
In traditional Sanskrit the Thunderbolt Pose is known as vajrasana. "Vajra" means thunderbolt and "asana" means position or posture. Sometimes "vajra" is translated as diamond, so you may come across this yoga pose under the name Diamond Pose. Begin the pose by kneeling on the floor with the tops of your feet extended against the floor. Sit back on your heels. Keep the knees, thighs and feet together and sit up straight. Rest your hands on the tops of your thighs.
2. Improve Leg Tone and Flexibility
The Thunderbolt Pose stretches and tones the thigh and calf muscles and promotes ankle and knee flexibility. Experienced yoga students can vary the pose by separating their feet and sitting on the floor between them. This variation increases the muscle stretch and the knee bend. For another variation cross the top of the right foot over the sole of the left. After a few moments switch and cross them the other way.
3. Get Your Juices Flowing
Some yogis use the crossed foot variation of the Thunderbolt Pose to enhance the yoga breathing technique of alternate nostril breathing. According to the philosophy underlying yoga and Ayurveda, life energy or "prana" travels with the breath up and down the right and left channels in the body. The energy enters and exits the right and left nostrils. Crossing the right foot over the left in vajrasana facilitates the flow in the right channel, while crossing the left over the right aids the left channel.
4. Benefits Abound
The physical benefits of the Thunderbolt Pose are greatest for the abdominal organs. This pose supports digestion, treats stomach ulcer symptoms and relieves constipation. Women use it for menstrual cycle irregularities, PMS symptoms, menstrual cramps and during the early stages of labor. The position of the hips in the Thunderbolt Pose also helps ease the pain of sciatica in the back and the legs.
5. Breathe Away Stress Comfortably
Vajrasana is an excellent position for seated meditation because it is easier for many practitioners to maintain a straight spine in this pose than in most cross-legged postures. A straight spine allows the breath to flow smoothly and promotes the movement of prana in the body's energy channels. This calms the mind and the nervous system. Many people prefer this pose over cross-legged seated poses such as the Lotus Pose, which require much more hip flexibility.
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