Dvi Pāda Pīṭham

Common Variations

Common Modifications

Links to Related Resources & Longer Articles:

• Glossary of Āsana & Mudrā Practice Techniques
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• Āsana Practice Articles
• Āsana Practice Pointers
• Prāṇāyāma & Bandha Practice Techniques Glossary
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• Collected Āsana, Mudrā & Prāṇāyāma Practice & Theory Articles
• Collected Āsana, Mudrā & Prāṇāyāma Sample Practices
• Collected Āsana Mudrā & Prāṇāyāma Practice Planning & Theory Questions
• Collected Practice Theory Posts on Viniyoga
• Collected Practice Theory Posts on Vinyāsa Krama
• Collected Practice Theory Posts on Pratikriyāsana
• Collected Practice Theory Posts on the Breath
• Collected Practice Theory Posts on Śikṣaṇa
• Collected Practice Theory Posts on Rakṣaṇa
• Collected Practice Theory Posts on Cikitsā
• Collected Practice Theory Posts on Laṅghana
• Collected Practice Theory Posts on Bṛṃhaṇa
• Examples of Vinyāsa Krama for Sitting Āsana within a Single Practice…
• Seated Prāṇāyāma Practice focused on Sūkṣma Bhāvana rather than Dīrgha Bhāvana

Collated Related Short Posts & Quotes:

“Dvi Pāda Pīṭham or Two Foot Support combines
the characteristics of a lying Āsana and a backbend,
as well as offering an alternative to more intense
backbends, or as a preparation for inverted Āsana.
This Āsana can be applied initially within a dynamic
context working as a preparation for the body,
plus allowing gradual access to stronger Āsana,
such as prone backbends and inverted Āsana.
The way for progressive work to access the upper half
of the body, neck and shoulders links to a subtle and
precise work with the breath, especially the inhalation.
Here the focus of attention is supported through the
application of techniques such as, firstly, locational
breathing and then, if appropriate, directional breathing.
This can further help the involvement of the student
in the longer-term intention and purpose of the Āsana.
In its more intense Śikṣaṇa form Dvi Pāda Pīṭham is a
challenging option for the more experienced student.”
– 108 Postural Practice Pointers

– In Dvipāda Pīṭham a key Bhāvana is on the feet
“With regard to Dvi Pāda Pīṭham, a key Bhāvana is on the feet.
A common approach is people not working from their feet.
Instead they are primarily using their buttocks to push up.
Desikachar taught that we both lift and lower from the feet
Thus Two Foot Support is controlled by using both feet.
– 108 Postural Practice Pointers

– In Dvipāda Pīṭham a key Bhāvana is on the arms
“With regard to Dvi Pāda Pīṭham, a key Bhāvana is on how we use the arms.
In the beginning try exploring leaving out raising the arms as you come up,
as shoulder movement means that people can start to move about on the mat.
Here we need to focus on lifting the body upwards as many people slide backwards.
Also many people will push up too much from the buttocks and distend the belly,
which in turn will increase the abdominal pressure and disturb the Apāna Sthāna.
So initially when learning this posture the Bhāvana of lifting from the feet is enough.
Then adding the engagement of a Bhāvana on the arms, by making the arms active.
Thus whilst lifting engage pushing the full length of the arms down firmly on the floor.
Once the legs are active and the arms are active, the neck can lengthen more naturally.”
– 108 Postural Practice Pointers

– Bhāvana when moving or staying in Dvipāda Pīṭham
“When lifting or staying within the Pūraka focus on
drawing upwards, as if raising from the chest,
rather than just raising as if from the hips.
When lowering or staying within the Recaka focus on
not collapsing down, but drawing in from the abdomen,
rather than the body just dropping as if from the hips.”
– 108 Postural Practice Pointers

– Bhāvana on the relationship between the Viśuddhi Sthāna and Jālandhara Bandha…
“A common escape when using Dvi Pāda Pīṭham is the neck arching rather than lengthening, resulting in the lifting of the head as if to compensate for the increased sense of the neck compressing.
Hence a key Bhāvana here is the deepening of the Jālandhara Bandha whilst working with the potential dissipation that can arise through the simultaneous lifting of the arms.
This escape is something that is also further exaggerated when raising the arms at the same time as lifting the hips, due to the increasingly upward force from the hips pushing down onto the shoulders, also increasingly unstable due to the lifting of the arms.
We can explore this escape by holding a Bhāvana on the relationship between the Viśuddhi Sthāna and Jālandhara Bandha through choosing an alternative Vinyāsa Krama in Dvi Pāda Pīṭham. One suggestion here is to investigate the interaction between the arms and trunk via the breath as shown in the illustration above.
The intention here is to maintain a gradual lengthening in the neck whilst resisting the tendency for the shoulders to as if skateboard on the scapula and increase the distance between the head and the feet. Here also an active role for the arms and shoulders is suggested at all points especially when they are not being lifted.
Perhaps experiment with repeating this alternate suggestion for a  Vinyāsa Krama in Dvi Pāda Pīṭham some 6 times whilst maintaining a breath pattern of around 4 breaths per minute. The entire sequence taking some six minutes to explore.”
– 108 Postural Practice Pointers

“Short and Longer Term prerequisites for: 
Eka Pāda Uttāna Mayūrāsana include
– Dvi Pāda Pīṭham
– Sarvāṅgāsana
– Halāsana
– Śalabhāsana
– Dhanurāsana”
– 108 Postural Practice Pointers

General Guidelines for Choosing Āsana:
“When the body gets used to certain things,
less awareness about them seems to happen.”
– Yoga Practice Planning Question Series
– The Viniyoga of Planning Principles Guidelines – Collected & Collated

– Āsana only Planning Questions
“Design and Experiment with an Āsana Practice around
– Dvi Pāda Pīṭham – Repeat 4 times and Stay 4 Breaths
– Sālamba Bhujaṅgāsana – Repeat 4 times
– Nirālamba Bhujaṅgāsana – Repeat 4 time.”
To Download or view this Question as a PDF Study Sheet
– Yoga Practice Planning Question Series
– Yoga Practice Planning and Theory Questions – Collected & Collated

– Āsana only Theory Questions
“Compare Dvi Pāda Pīṭham and Śalabhāsana
in relation to their potential within the following situations:
1. In strengthening the leg muscles.
2. Potential stress on the sacroiliac joint.
3. Influencing the circulation.
4. Potential risk on the knees.
5. As a preparation for Dhanurāsana.
6. In helping with flat feet.
7. In improving the inhalation.
8. In decreasing lower back pain.”
To Download or View the Questiion as a PDF Study Sheet
– Yoga Practice Planning Question Series
– Yoga Practice Planning and Theory Questions – Collected & Collated