Physical Education · Ch 3 — Yoga as Preventive Measure for Lifestyle Disease
Bhujangasana
Bhujangasana
This asana is described in full in section 3.2.3 (Bhujangasana) above - its procedure, breathing awareness, benefits and contraindications are the same wherever it is practised. The CBSE Class 12 Physical Education syllabus lists Bhujangasana again here because it is one of the asanas recommended for this specific lifestyle disease; refer to section 3.2.3 for the complete method and the posture diagram.
Why Bhujangasana helps manage asthma
Lifting the chest and arching the upper back in Bhujangasana directly expands the ribcage and stretches the intercostal muscles between the ribs, the same muscles that must move freely for a full, unrestricted breath. This chest-opening action counters the shallow, restricted breathing pattern typical of asthma, and the gentle backward bend also stretches the front of the throat and upper chest, areas that often feel tight during and after an asthma episode.
Specific benefits for a person managing asthma
- Opens the chest, shoulders and ribcage, directly increasing usable lung capacity.
- Strengthens the back muscles that support an upright, open-chested posture.
- Stimulates circulation to the chest and upper torso, supporting recovery of respiratory tissues between attacks.
- Combines naturally with Ushtrasana and Vakrasana elsewhere in the asthma sequence to build a complete chest-opening and twisting routine.