Trivikramasana

Trivikramasana (Sanskrit: त्रिविक्रमासन) or the standing splits is a standing asana in hatha yoga.

Etymology and origins
Vamana striding the heavens as Trivikrama in his characteristic yoga pose, Karnataka

The name of this pose comes from Trivikrama, a figure in Hindu mythology whose name means "three strides", and "asana" meaning "posture" or "seat".[1]

The pose is ancient, being one of those depicted in the 13th - 18th century statues of Bharatnatyam dance that decorate the Eastern Gopuram of the Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram.[2]

A pose named Trivikramasana is illustrated in the 19th century Sritattvanidhi, but the yoga scholar Norman Sjoman notes that the illustration depicts a different standing balance, Durvasasana.[3]

Description and variations

In the standing pose, one leg is stretched straight up beside the body and the ankle is grasped with one hand. The other arm is stretched straight out sideways.[4]

The reclining form of the pose (supine splits) is Supta Trivikramasana.[5][6][7] In Light on Yoga, B. K. S. Iyengar marks it as a difficult pose at level 39.[8]

See also
  • Durvasasana, a similar standing pose with one leg behind the neck

References
  1. "Peak Pose: Trivikramasana (Standing Splits)". Yoga International. Retrieved 2016-10-30.
  2. Bhavanani, Ananda Balayogi; Bhavanani, Devasena (2001). "Bharatanatyam and Yoga". Archived from the original on 23 October 2006. He also points out that these [Bharatanatyam dance] stances are very similar to Yoga Asanas, and in the Gopuram walls at Chidambaram, at least twenty different classical Yoga Asanas are depicted by the dancers, including Dhanurasana, Chakrasana, Vrikshasana, Natarajasana, Trivikramasana, Ananda Tandavasana, Padmasana, Siddhasana, Kaka Asana, Vrishchikasana and others.
  3. Sjoman, Norman E. (1999). The Yoga Tradition of the Mysore Palace. Abhinav Publications. p. 78, plate 11 (pose 62). ISBN 81-7017-389-2.
  4. Vas, Louise. "Thiruvikramasana / Standing Split". Asana International Yoga Journal. Retrieved 14 January 2019. This pose is sometimes referred as “Trivikramasana”, and sometimes in English as “Lord Shiva’s terrific dance pose”.
  5. "Supta Trivikramasana". Yogapedia. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  6. "Supta Trivikramasana". Ashtanga Yoga. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  7. Palkhivali, Aadil (28 August 2007). "Asana Column: Hanumanasana". Yoga Journal. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  8. Iyengar, B. K. S. (1979) [1966]. Light on Yoga: Yoga Dipika. Thorsons. pp. 356–357.
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