The Fish Posture (Matsyasana)

Technique

1. Lie on your back with your knees bent and arms at your side.
2. Arch your back as much as you can while raising it off the ground by pushing the floor with your elbows. At the same time, throw your head backwards, resting the crown of your head on the floor. Use your forearm and elbows to support you.
3. Expand your chest. Breathe deeply with the abdomen and concentrate on the thyroid gland.
4. Stay in this position for about one minute. Slowly come back to the starting position.

Benefits

1. The fish posture normalizes the function of the thyroid, pituitary, pineal and adrenal glands. It limbers and stretches the neck, strengthens and tones the nervous system, the kidneys, the stomach and intestines, the pelvic organs, and the nerves connected with the sex functions.
2. This is the only posture in this sequence which bends the spine (including the neck) backwards. This is essential, to counteract the preceding asanas which bend the spine forwards. The result is to give a healthy stretch to the muscles and ligaments of the spine in the opposite direction.
3. This posture benefits people with asthma.