Bhujangasan is a Sanskrit word which means a cobra. When performed, this asan gives the appearance of a hooded cobra. The raised trunk, neck and head represent the hood.

Method: (1) Rest your forehead on the blanket or mat, keep arms at the sides, relax the body. Do not hold the muscles tight. Bring your hands up and place them beneath your shoulders. Slowly inhale and hold your breath.

(2) In a very slow motion, begin to raise your head and bend it backwards. Bend your spine well. Do not raise the body suddenly. Rise gradually so that you can actually feel the flexing of the vertebrae, one by one, as the pressure travels downwards from the cervical, dorsal and lumbar regions and, lastly, to the sacral regions. Let the body, from the navel down to the toes, touch the ground. In a very slow motion, reverse the movement while exhaling slowly, and lower your trunk until the forehead rests once again on the floor. Exhale completely. Pauses a few moments before repeating. This asan can be repeated five or six times though beginners should practice it only twice for a few seconds each.