Thunderbolt Posture: Vajrasana

This is also called the Adamantine, Diamond, and Adamant Posture. B. K. S. lyengar goes against the general run by making it Virasana, the Hero's or Warrior's Posture, of which there are at least six different descriptions.

A number of the most valuable postures of Hatha Yoga have their starting-point in this position of sitting between the heels. The Thunderbolt Posture (Vajrasana) is the basic pose. Vajra means 'thunderbolt'. As with the cross-legged Easy Posture, one should practise regularly until it is fully comfortable, which it is for the Japanese and some other races.

Kneel with the knees together and sit on the inner edges of the upturned feet. The fronts of the feet rest on the floor, the toes flat and not bent forward. Though the knees are together and the toes may touch, the heels are spread apart so that their inner edges support the outer edges of the buttocks. In advanced performance, Yogins sit on the floor between the feet. The left hand is placed, palm down, on the left knee, and the right hand is placed, palm down, on the right knee. Sit erect, with easy poise, keeping the head and back in a vertical straight line. Breathe freely and sit perfectly still for at least a minute.

Beginners can expect to experience some protest from the knee-joints, but this should fade away with regular practice. One can ^speed up the loosening of the synovial ligaments by sitting and gently bouncing up and down a few times at each Yoga session.

Sitting still in the Thunderbolt Posture calms the mind and quietens the nervous system, improves posture, firms the legs, and limbers and knee-joints. As with the cross-legged sitting postures, this basic sitting-on-heels posture can be used for the practice of Yogic breath control (pranayama) and of meditation. Vajrasana, as was mentioned earlier, is also the starting position for a n umber of important postures, some of which now follow.