Janu Śīrṣāsana

Variations

Baddha Hasta Janu Śīrṣāsana

Parśva Janu Śīrṣāsana

Parivṛtti Janu Śīrṣāsana

Modifications

Links to Related Resources & Longer Articles:

• Āsana & Mudrā Practice Techniques Glossary
  – Grouped into Standing, Kneeling, Lying, Inverted, Backbend, Seated & Sitting
• Āsana Practice Articles
• Āsana Practice Pointers
• Prāṇāyāma & Bandha Practice Techniques Glossary
  – Grouped into Primary, Secondary & Ancillary Techniques
• 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
• A sample Parivṛtti and Paścimatāna Themed Group Practice
• Planning question around a 25′ long practice, focused on Stay in Janu Śīrṣāsana…

Collated Related Short Posts & Quotes:

“When bending towards the lower limbs during forward bend Āsana,
move firstly by as if rounding from the lower back,
before ultimately rounding from the upper back.
In terms of a Bhāvana during the movement,
the focus is on exhaling from Apāna Sthāna towards Prāṇa Sthāna.
Thus breathing as if from the lower abdomen towards the upper chest.”
– 108 Postural Practice Pointers

“When moving away from the lower limbs during forward bend Āsana,
move firstly by as if arching from the arms and upper back,
before ultimately arching from the lower back.
In terms of a Bhāvana during the movement,
the focus is on inhaling from Prāṇa Sthāna towards Apāna Sthāna.
Thus breathing as if from the upper chest towards the lower abdomen.”
– 108 Postural Practice Pointers

“In supporting a cultivation, within or through Āsana,
of the subtler aspects of Bāhya Aṅga Sādhana, such
as Pratyāhāra, it can be a more helpful marker to be on
the lookout for sensory incontinence, rather than say,
being more preoccupied with physical choreography.
Such as how we can unconsciously leak, through randomly
opening the eyes or vaguely keeping the eyes open, when
transiting into or changing sides around such as seated Āsana.
For example, arriving into or departing from a choreographically
demanding asymmetrical Āsana such as Ardha Matsyendrāsana.
In other words, remaining alert and using the space between the
breath when moving from or returning to its link Āsana, Daṇḍāsana.
Another example is the potential for sensory incontinence when
moving into or out of or especially when changing sides, with
more popular or familiar seated Āsana such as Janu Śīrṣāsana.”
– 108 Postural Practice Pointers

“When working with Paścimatāna Āsana,
such as Uttānāsana, or Parśva Uttānāsana,
or Paścimatānāsana, or Janu Śīrṣāsana.
Keep the arms held up as you exhale down,
releasing and lowering them lightly at the end.
Lifting the arms first as you inhale up and
leading from the arms until upright again.
Activate the abdomen as you exhale down,
retaining a degree of tone as you complete.
This helps in maintaining the effort to keep the
abdomen activated as you inhale and lift up.”
– 108 Postural Practice Pointers

“Janu Śīrṣāsana, known as the head to knee Āsana,
combines the qualities of a seated forward bend with
those of an asymmetrical pose, in that it works first,
on one side of the body more, then on the other side.
In this Āsana, the physical focus is on the lengthening
of the muscles of the back, spine and the extended leg,
and the rotational effects on the joints in the folded leg.
Plus, with its seated forward bend Bhāvana, there is
a natural support favouring the exhalation, offering
opportunities to both lengthen and deepen the breath.
This support, along with its  internalising and closing
qualities, offers possibilities for the student to focus on
the quality of the attention within the form of the body.
Thus, using Janu Śīrṣāsana with its seated forward bend
Bhāvana, and when linked with a mindful breath, can help
the student to experience the deeper function of the Āsana,
even if there are limitations with regard to its Śikṣaṇa form.”
– 108 Postural Practice Pointers

“My Āsana study with Desikachar was shaped around forming
a deep appreciation of specific core principles that underpin
the planning and practice of Āsana and their application to
the individual student’s constitution, psychology and need.
Amongst these dozen or so core principles,
the first group when looking at any Āsana in depth,
were the concepts of Nāma, Rūpa and Lakṣaṇa, or the
name, form and characteristics of that particular Āsana.
Obviously, the Nāma is a useful tag point for identification
and the Rūpa is vital as a reference point for the Sat Viniyoga,
or right application of the Āsana within overall considerations of
initial direction and outcomes through such as the Śikṣaṇa Krama,
Rakṣaṇa Krama or Cikitsā Krama application of the forms used.
However, I do feel these days that our understanding in Āsana
practice is more dominated by the Nāma and the Rūpa with
little emphasis on the Lakṣaṇa or inherent characteristics of the
Āsana and how understanding this aspect can have a profound
effect on the approach, application and outcome of the overall or
accumulative impact of the Āsana within the student’s practice.
The teachings of Krishnamacharya around Āsana included
an in-depth appreciation of the Lakṣaṇa, especially around
the thirty or so primary and secondary support Āsana such as
Uttānāsana, Jaṭhara Parivṛtti, Bhujaṅgāsana or Januśīrṣāsana.”
– 108 Yoga Teaching Path Pointers

– Āsana only Theory Questions
“Compare
– Paścimatānāsana, Janu Śīrṣāsana, Upaviṣṭa Koṇāsana and Baddha Koṇāsana.”
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
– Paścimatānāsana, Janu Śīrṣāsana, Upaviṣṭa Koṇāsana and Baddha Koṇāsana
with regard to:
1. Differences between them in terms of stress on the knees.
2. Differences between them in terms of stress on the lower back.
3. Differences between them in terms of effect on high blood pressure.
4. Differences between them as a preparation for runners.
5. Differences between them as a counterpose for runners.
6. Differences between them for a person with sciatica.”
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 Planning Questions
“Design and Experiment with an Āsana Practice around
– Parśva Uttānāsana  – Repeat 4 times and Stay 4 Breaths
– Janu Śīrṣāsana – Repeat 4 times and Stay 4 Breaths”
To Download or view this Question as a PDF Study Sheet
To Download or View a Sample Practice Response as a PDF
– Yoga Practice Planning Question Series
– Yoga Practice Planning and Theory Questions – Collected & Collated