Durvasasana
Durvasasana (Sanskrit: दुर्वासासन) or Durvasana,[2] is an advanced standing asana in hatha yoga.
Etymology and origins
The pose is named after Durvasa (दुर्वासा), a proverbially angry sage.[3]
The 18th century Hathabhyasapaddhati verse 81 describes a pose that it names Trivikramasana with the words "Place a foot on the neck and stand up".[4] The 19th century Sritattvanidhi describes and illustrates a pose that it names Trivikramasana, but which the yoga scholar Norman Sjoman states is Durvasasana.[1]
Description
Durvasasana is an advanced standing balancing pose with one leg behind the neck;[5] the hands are held together over the chest in prayer position.[6] As well as rating the pose of difficulty level 21 (out of 60), B. K. S. Iyengar states that it is difficult to balance in the pose, and recommends using a support to begin with.[3] In Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, the breathing in the pose is stated to be either natural or ujjayi.[6][7]
Eka Pada Sirsasana is a seated form of the foot behind the head pose.[8]
See also
- Bhairavasana, a reclining form of the pose
- Trivikramasana, a similar standing pose with one leg stretched straight up
References
- Sjoman, Norman E. (1999) [1996]. The Yoga Tradition of the Mysore Palace. Abhinav Publications. p. 78, plate 11 (pose 62). ISBN 81-7017-389-2.
- "Durvasana". Ashtanga Yoga. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
- Iyengar 1979, pp. 299–301.
- Mallinson, James; Singleton, Mark (2017). Roots of Yoga. Penguin Books. p. 125. ISBN 978-0-241-25304-5. OCLC 928480104.
- Self, Philip (1998). Yogi bare : naked truth from America's leading yoga teachers. Nashville, Tenn: Cypress Moon Press. p. 291. ISBN 978-0-9666894-0-2. OCLC 42077034.
- Arnaud, Gérard (2017). Vinyasa yoga (in French). Marabout. pp. 150–. ISBN 978-2-501-12340-2.
- Iyengar 1979, pp. 441–443.
- Schumacher, John (28 August 2007). "Eka Pada Sirsasana (Foot-behind-the-Head Pose)". Yoga Journal. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
Sources
- Iyengar, B. K. S. (1979) [1966]. Light on Yoga: Yoga Dipika. Thorsons. ISBN 978-1855381667.