Kaliasana: how to do the poses, meaning, benefits, and info
Kaliasana is one of my favorite poses. It's so strong and empowering, just like the Goddess of Destruction herself. I hope you enjoy the pose and the great goddess as much as I do! [Just so you know, this post contains affiliate links]
About Kali
Kali is the Hindu goddess of destruction, power, time, and transformation. She is also sometimes called the Divine Mother. She has blue or black skin and usually sticks out her tongue. In 4 of her hands, she carries a trident, a sword, a human head, and a bowl catching the blood dripping from the head. She is often portrayed dancing on her consort, the God Shiva. She is a ferocious goddess with a necklace of human heads and a skirt of arms. This is symbolism; Kali helps souls find liberation from attachment to their bodies at the end of their life- moksha means liberation from the cycle of rebirth. She also destroys the ego and evils of all kinds.
Kaliasana: How-to
For Kaliasana, spread your feet wide and at a slight outward angle. Sit into a deep, low squat, keeping your back straight. Bring your arms up parallel with your shoulders then bend at the elbow to create a goal post shape. Bend your wrists so your palms are facing up to the sky. For the full expression, look at your third eye with your two open eyes and stick out your tongue as far as it can go. This powerful pose helps create energy, and strengthens the body, especially the legs.
Pranayama: Breathe like Kali
To take it even further, you can add Kali pranayama or breath-work. I have seen a few different variations. Also for other types of pranayama, click the pranayama image below
Kali Breath Variation 1
Begin in Kaliasana as described above
On an inhale, rise up from your squat, keeping your legs wide and opening your palms with fingers pointed up to the sky. Bring your tongue into your mouth
On an exhale, sit back down into the squat, squeezing your hands into tight fists. As you exhale, stick out your tongue and breath out like a daring dark goddess would, or as if you want to fog up a mirror. Remember to look up toward your third eye
Continue for 10 rounds
Kali Breath Variation 2
Begin standing in mountain pose, tadanasa
On an exhale, step out wide into Kaliasana, using the goddess breath, like you want to fog up a mirror, and sticking out your tongue
On an inhale, step your leg back in and return to mountain pose
On the next exhale, step out with the other leg, alternating which foot you step out with on each round
Continue for 10 rounds
Kali Breath Variation 3
Sitting deeply into your squat, start with your arms extended down, straight in front of you, palms together
On an inhale, raise your arms in front of your body until they are overhead, keeping your palms together
On an exhale, open your arms out to the sides and bring your hands to meet in front of your body again (option: stick your tongue out and breath out like you want to fog up a mirror on each exhale and bring your tongue back in on each inhale)
Continue for 10 rounds
8 Limbs of Yoga: Pranayama, breath control: about and how to