Goraksasana is an important meditative asana named after Gorakshanath, a legendary Nath yogi credited with founding the Hatha Yogic tradition along with his guru, Matsyendranath .It has been found to be effective in correcting nocturnal seminal discharges.

Yoga Texts and Goraksasana
Goraksasana is a fairly well known asana, first mentioned in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika (1400 AD), although the text merely mentions Goraksasana as an alternate name for Bhadrasana. The first text to describe it as an indepenent asana is the Hatha Ratnavali (1600 AD), wherein it is included in the list of 84 classic yoga asanas taught by Lord Shiva. It was subsequently mentioned in the Gheranda Samhita and other significant Asana compendia.

Practice of Goraksasana
* Join the soles of the feet together, in front of the genitals with the toes pointing outward.
* Now, move the body and place the two heels under the anus.
* Let the feet cover the seam of the perineum breadthwise and hide the legs under their respective thighs.
* Keep the hands pressed on the knees so as to cause a steady pull posteriorly, varying the strength as desired by downward pressure upon the knees.
* Stretch the legs at full length for a few minutes after the posture is relieved before getting up.

Effects of Goraksasana
This posture, by working upon the connective muscles of the groin and thigh, indirectly stretches both the superficial as well as the deeper urogenitial muscles, aids elasticity of the respective muscular fibres and increases the circulation of blood.

Goraksasana may be practiced both morning and evening. Five minutes at each sitting is enough, but in the evening the duration of practice may be increased to ten minutes.

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