** Posture: Pavana-mukta-asana The Wind-releasing Pose ** Translation: Because the Sanskrit words pavana and mukta indicate "air or wind" and "freedom or release," this is known as the "wind relieving pose." It helps to release trapped digestive gas from the stomach and intestines. ** Pronunciation: pa-vana mook-tah-sa-na ** Difficulty: (1) ** Instructions: 1- Take a deep breath in and bend your right knee, pulling it close to your body with both hands while interlocking your fingers just below the knee. Maintain a flat left leg on the floor. 2- Hold your inhaled breath for a few seconds before gently exhaling through your nose and lifting your back, shoulders, and head off the floor, touching your knee with your forehead. 3- Hold the exhaled air for a few seconds before inhaling gently and lowering your back, shoulders, and head to the floor. Maintain your grip on the knee. 4- Exhale while bringing the right leg to the floor, holding the inhaled air for a few seconds. 5- Lie flat on your back for a few seconds in shava-asana, then repeat with the left leg. ** Benefits As previously stated, the purvana-mukta-asana aids in the expulsion of gastrointestinal gas. It also stimulates the abdominal area, which helps with various gastrointestinal issues including upset stomachs and constipation. ** Duration/Repetitions: For three to five seconds, hold each of the four components of this pose (corresponding to the held breaths). Purvasa-mukta-asana should be repeated three to five times on each side.