[4] Makara is commonly translated as crocodile, but has also been assumed to be a sea-creature like a shark or dolphin, and may have been a wholly mythical beast.[6] A different myth in the Ramayana tells how Hanuman, seeking to drink from a lake, is seized, pulled under, and swallowed by a crocodile.Hanuman changes shape to become so large that the crocodile bursts, leaving a beautiful apsara nymph named Dhyanamalini who reveals that she had been cursed to become the monster.[7] Makarasana is however often used as a relaxation asana, an alternative to the supine Shavasana, and both head and legs are rested on the floor.Yoga International describes it as having the chest "slightly raised", and as "one of the best postures for working with diaphragmatic breathing".