Lion Pose (Simhasana) demonstrated
Category
Seated
Level
beginner
Hold
3–5 rounds
Type
Asana
Breath
Deep nasal inhale, long roaring mouth exhale

Lion Pose

Simhasana — "lion posture"

Also known as: Lion's Breath

Kneel, inhale deeply, then exhale with a roar: mouth wide, tongue stretched out, eyes lifted. Lion is deliberately undignified — it releases the face, jaw, and throat, and it's very hard to take yourself too seriously while doing it.

Step by step

  1. 1Kneel and sit back on your heels, or cross your ankles beneath you.
  2. 2Plant your palms on your knees and splay your fingers wide.
  3. 3Inhale deeply through your nose.
  4. 4Open your mouth wide, stretch your tongue out and down toward your chin.
  5. 5Exhale forcefully with an audible "haaa" roar from the back of your throat.
  6. 6Turn your gaze upward, toward the space between your eyebrows.
  7. 7Close your mouth, breathe normally for a moment, and repeat two or three times.

Benefits

  • ✓ Releases tension in the face, jaw, and throat
  • ✓ Stretches muscles most poses never touch — tongue, face, hands
  • ✓ Breaks up seriousness and self-consciousness in a practice
  • ✓ Pairs a strong exhale with a full-body expression

Make it yours

  • · Sit on a block or cushion between the heels.
  • · Practice in Easy Pose or on a chair — the face and breath are the pose.
  • · Do it quietly (breath only, no sound) in shared spaces.

Take care

  • Soften the jaw stretch if your jaw clicks or is recovering from strain — the exhale matters more than the maximum stretch.
  • Sit on a cushion or in a chair if kneeling is uncomfortable.

This is general practice guidance, not medical advice. If something hurts, ease out of it.

Props that help here

  • Cork blocks (set of 2) — Bring the floor closer in lunges, folds, and triangle — and a block between the shoulder blades turns a backbend into something you can hold. find one
  • 8-foot cotton strap — Extends your reach in hamstring and shoulder work — the honest substitute for grabbing a foot you can't yet reach. Get 8ft, not 6ft. find one

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