Paschimottanasana

Paschimotanasana

Pashimottanasana (PASH-ee-moh-tan-AHS-anna^[1]; Sanskrit: पश्चिमोत्तानासन; IAST: paścimottānāsana), Seated Forward Bend,^[2] or Intense Dorsal Stretch^[3] is an asana.

Together with Padmasana (lotus), Siddhasana (half-lotus) and Vajrasana (lightning-bolt pose), this asana is an accomplished asana according to the Shiva Samhita. It was advocated by 11th century yogi Gorakshanath .

It is also practiced in Acroyoga with Floating Paschimottanasana.

Etymology

The name comes from the Sanskrit words paschima (पश्चिम, paścima) meaning "west" or "back" or "back of body",^[4] and uttana (उत्तान, uttāna) meaning "intense stretch" or "straight" or "extended",^[5] and asana (आसन) meaning "posture" or "seat".^[6]

Description

This asana is practiced in four stages:

1. In the first stage, the yogi stretches their legs straight and swings the upper part of their body back and forth. With each swing, the yogi tries to reach further with their hands, touching their knees, calves, ankles, and finally their toes.
2. In the second stage, the yogi bends forward to touch their knees with their hands.
3. From the second stage above, the yogi reaches further to touch their toes with their hands.
4. From the third stage, the yogi tries to place their elbows at the side of their knees, and touch their knees with either their nose or their forehead.

People who have difficulty bending their backs should exercise caution when performing this asana.^[7]

A runner performing a seated, forward bend stretch.

A similar frontbend is Uttanasana (a standing front bend). Paschimottanasana 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.

Gallery

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See also

• List of asanas

References

1. Long, Ray (22 January 2011). Yoga Mat Companion 2: Anatomy for Hip Openers and Forward Bends. Greenleaf Book (Distributor). p. 217. ISBN 978-1-60743-942-4. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
2. "Yoga Journal - Seated Forward Bend". Retrieved 2011-04-10.
3. "Asanas - Forward Bending Poses". About Yoga. Retrieved 2011-06-25. Paschimottanasana [...] translated as "intense dorsal stretch", is a seated asana.
4. Lark, Liz (15 March 2008). 1,001 Pearls of Yoga Wisdom: Take Your Practice Beyond the Mat. Chronicle Books. pp. 265–. ISBN 978-0-8118-6358-2. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
5. "Paschimottanasana - AshtangaYoga.info". Retrieved 2011-04-10.
6. Sinha, S.C. (1 June 1996). Dictionary of Philosophy. Anmol Publications PVT. LTD. p. 18. ISBN 978-81-7041-293-9. Retrieved 9 April 2011.
7. Kapadia, Praveen (2002). Yoga Simplified (1st ed.). Hyderabad, India: Gandhi Gyan Mandir Yoga Kendra. pp. 124–125.

Further reading

• Iyengar, B. K. S. (1 October 2005). Illustrated Light On Yoga. HarperCollins. ISBN 978-81-7223-606-9. Retrieved 9 April 2011.
• Saraswati, Swami Satyananda (1 August 2003). Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha. Nesma Books India. ISBN 978-81-86336-14-4. 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 978-81-85787-08-4. Retrieved 9 April 2011.

External links

• Yoga Journal description.
• Advanced Yoga-Paschimottanasana with Image and Description.
• Yoga in Daily Life description of Paschimottanasana.