Simhasana (Lion Pose)

            In this asana, the body and face are manipulated at once to invoke the force and intensity of a lion’s roar. In fact, this posture is thought to be one of the best face exercises you can get. People often overlook another benefit of Lion Pose: it stimulates the *platysma, which is a thin, rectangular-shaped muscle in the front of throat. This exercise will keep the platysma strong as you age. 

Getting Into Lion Pose: 

            Begin by kneeling on the floor with knees shoulder-width apart. Cross your right ankle over your left and carefully sit back on your heels. Make sure your feet are pointing outward and your calves are kept flat on the floor. Lift your chest up just enough that you are not slouching and your spine is fully straightened, but don’t over-arch your back.

            Now, place both your hands on top of your knees. REMEMBER: don’t slouch as you do this. Widen your palms and press them firmly against your knees. Splay your fingers like a lion’s claws. Inhale deeply through your nose.

This next step is the focal point of Simhasana, but it can also be quite challenging. If you struggle here, be sure to practice your movements in coordination with each other. So, simultaneously do the following:

• Lower your jaw and open your mouth as wide as possible
• Stretch your tongue out and curl its tip down toward your chin
• Open your eyes wide, looking upward
• Focus your eyes in between your eyebrows or on the tip of your nose
• Contract the muscles at the front of your throat
• Activate your hands, splaying your fingers further out

Now, hold this position and exhale slowly through your mouth. Feel the air pass over the back of the throat as well as the contraction of your throat and neck muscles. You should make a distinct “haaaaa” sound as you exhale.

Don’t forget to give your best lion roar. In fact, roar two of three times then retract your tongue. Relax your face, mouth, eyes, throat, and hands. Cross your ankles the opposite way and repeat Simhasana. 

Benefits of Lion Pose: 

• Relieves tension in the face and chest
• Improves circulation of blood to the face
• Keeps your eyes healthy by stimulating the nerves
• Stimulates and firms the platysma
• Helps prevent sore throat, asthma, and other respiratory ailments
• May help treat bad breath
• Is said to eradicate disease

The platysma muscle

For those who wonder what is the platysma muscle, it is a long band that stretches from the jaw bones to the pectoral muscles of the chest. It is fairly close to the surface of the skin and affects many of the facial movements and expressions we make. It acts to pull on the corners of the mouth. Therefore, it can affect a smile or frown. Because the muscle runs below the jaw, on both sides of the neck, it can contribute greatly, to a double chin. It may also lead to a wrinkled neck, which may also be known as turkey neck.

Many people are unaware of the length and width of the platysma muscles. They are one of the largest muscles connected to the face. This is why it can have such a great affect on facial expressions. This muscle is activated when someone is sad, happy or surprised. It helps us express emotion, so that others know how we feel.

Exercise can make the usually flat muscle firmer and smoother. It is the ridges or bands of muscle fibers that create pouches of wrinkled or sagging skin. One exercise involves tilting the head back as far as it will go. Then, the mouth is slowly opened and closed, causing the muscle to contract. Another exercise is placing tennis ball under the chin and pushing downward with the chin, which works the platysma as well. Other movements is pushing the tongue to the roof of the mouth, with lips closed.

The platysma can be toned, just like other muscles in the body. In stands to reason, that the area below the chin can be made to look smoother. The exercises do not take much time each day. They can be done in front of a mirror after a bath. They can be done at work, on a lunch break. It is important to remember to do many repetitions, for optimal effect.

When a person turns his or her head, the muscle moves in the direction the head is turned. It is a very flexible muscle that can help the neck maintain its flexibility. When a person tilts the head from one side to another, the platysma it stretched to a point, where a gentle pulling or pressure is felt.

Maintaining flexibility of this area is essential, for giving an athlete an edge in certain sports. Those that require the head to be turned frequently are most affected. Playing baseball, tennis, soccer and others, can benefit from conditioning of this muscle, along with others. Dancing and acrobatics also can be enhanced by flexibility of this muscle. Most people are not aware of how much the platysma affects common every day activities.