Paschimottanasana
Paschimottanasana (Sanskrit: पश्चिमोत्तानासन; IAST: paścimottānāsana), Seated Forward Bend,[1] or Intense Dorsal Stretch,[2] is an asana.
Together with Padmasana (lotus), Siddhasana (half-lotus) and Vajrasana (lightning-bolt pose), this pose is an accomplished pose according to the Shiva Samhita. It was advocated by 11th century yogi Gorakshanath.
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[edit] Etymology
The name comes from the Sanskrit words paschima (पश्चिम, paścima) meaning "west" or "back" or "back of body",[3] and uttana (उत्तान, uttāna) meaning "intense stretch" or "straight" or "extended",[4] and asana (आसन) meaning "posture" or "seat".[5]
[edit] Description
The yogi sits on the floor with legs flat on the floor, straight ahead then bends forward from the hips to bring the trunk parallel with the legs.
A similar frontbend is Uttanasana, a standing front bend, which is more passive in its initial stages. Paschimottanasana, however, enables the arms to more easily support the upper body in the initial stages of the bend, and can be used both to move further into or move out of the stretch; it also enables much easier rotation inward or outward of the legs, abducting or adducting them at the hip, flexing or extending the knees, or enacting plantar or dorsi flexion of the ankle. These variations can be performed either as a combined stretch, to change emphasis on different tissues, or simply to take the mind off the hamstrings and lower back stretch. They can be used rhythmically to aid in relaxation.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "Yoga Journal - Seated Forward Bend". http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/477. Retrieved 2011-04-10.
- ^ "Asanas - Forwrad Bending Poses". About Yoga. http://about-yoga.com/forward-bending-poses.html. Retrieved 2011-06-25. "Paschimottanasana [...] translated as "intense dorsal stretch", is a seated asana."
- ^ Lark, Liz (15 March 2008). 1,001 Pearls of Yoga Wisdom: Take Your Practice Beyond the Mat. Chronicle Books. pp. 265–. ISBN 9780811863582. http://books.google.com/books?id=2tFgTLkdduoC&pg=PA265. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
- ^ "Paschimottanasana - AshtangaYoga.info". http://www.ashtangayoga.info/practice/asana-vinyasa-series/advanced-a-series-sthira-bhaga/item/paschimottanasana/. Retrieved 2011-04-10.
- ^ Sinha, S.C. (1 June 1996). Dictionary of Philosophy. Anmol Publications PVT. LTD.. p. 18. ISBN 9788170412939. http://books.google.com/books?id=-zzRvh1fRzEC&pg=PA18. Retrieved 9 April 2011.
[edit] Further reading
- Iyengar, B. K. S. (1 October 2005). Illustrated Light On Yoga. HarperCollins. ISBN 9788172236069. http://books.google.com/books?id=pbx5AAAACAAJ. Retrieved 9 April 2011.
- Saraswati, Swami Satyananda (1 August 2003). Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha. Nesma Books India. ISBN 9788186336144. http://books.google.com/books?id=YpR1QgAACAAJ. Retrieved 9 April 2011.
- Saraswati, Swami Satyananda (January 2004). A Systematic Course in the Ancient Tantric Techniques of Yoga and Kriya. Nesma Books India. ISBN 9788185787084. http://books.google.com/books?id=eWOrAAAACAAJ. Retrieved 9 April 2011.
[edit] External links
- Yoga Journal description.
- Advanced Yoga-Paschimottanasana with Image and Description.
- Video of Paschimottanasana at Zendle.com.
- Yoga in Daily Life description of Paschimottanasana.
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